Icterid

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A classification for a family of birds, known for their striking colors, that includes species often found in open habitats and possessing diverse feeding habits
2. It refers to a group of passerine birds recognized for their bright yellow and black feathers, which typically thrive in social groups within various environments
3. A category of birds distinguished by vibrant yellow and black plumage, typically residing in social settings across different environments

Etymology: The word's root is the Greek "ikteros," meaning jaundice, the yellowing of the skin caused by illness. Ancient writers also used "ikteros" for a yellow bird, and folklore held that seeing it could cure the disease. The name was later given to a genus of New World birds, the orioles, many of them brilliant yellow and orange, and the family was named from that genus. The "-id" ending comes from the New Latin family suffix "-idae," which in turn comes from the Greek patronymic "-ides," meaning "son of" or "descendant of." Zoologists use it to mark family names, so the term simply means a member of that bird family. Many species in the family are not yellow at all, though. They include blackbirds, grackles, meadowlarks and cowbirds, so the color name survives mainly through the genus that gave the family its name.