Length -- 12 to 13 inches. About one-fourth as large again as the robin. Male -- Iridescent black, in which metallic violet, blue, copper, and green tints predominate. The plumage of this grackle has iridescent bars. Iris of eye bright yellow and conspicuous. Tail longer than wings. Female -- Less brilliant black than male, and smaller. Range -- Gulf of Mexico to 57th parallel north latitude.英文原著 · 《Bird Neighbors》
Very small birds with green plumage (iridescent red or orange breast in males); long, needle-shaped bill for extracting insects and nectar from deep-cupped flowers, and exceedingly rapid, darting flight. Small feet. Ruby-throated Humming-bird.英文原著 · 《Bird Neighbors》
Birds of the air, that take their insect food on the wing. Migratory. Flight strong, skimming, darting; exceedingly graceful. When not flying they choose slender, conspicuous perches like telegraph wires, gutters, and eaves of barns. Plumage of some species dull, of others iridescent blues and Greens above, whitish or ruddy below. Sexes similar. Bills small; mouths large. - Long and pointed wings, generally reaching the tip of the tail or beyond.英文原著 · 《Bird Neighbors》
The Bronzed Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula aeneus) differs from the preceding chiefly in the more brownish bronze tint of its plumage and its lack of iridescent bars. Its range is more westerly, and in the southwest it is particularly common; but as a summer resident it finds its way to New England in large numbers. The call-note is louder and more metallic than the purple grackle's. In nearly all respects the habits of these two birds are identical.英文原著 · 《Bird Neighbors》
Wasps, beetles, and all manner of injurious garden insects constitute its diet -- another reason for its universal popularity. It is simple enough to distinguish the martins from the other swallows by their larger size and iridescent dark coat, not to mention their song, which is very soft and sweet, like musical laughter, rippling up through the throat.英文原著 · 《Bird Neighbors》
Length -- 7 to 8 inches. About one-fifth smaller than the robin. Male -- Iridescent black, with head, neck, and breast glistening brown. Bill dark brown, feet brownish. Female -- Dull grayish-brown above, a shade lighter below, and streaked with paler shades of brown. Range -- United States, from coast to coast. North into British America, south into Mexico. Migrations -- March.英文原著 · 《Bird Neighbors》