US Midwest, grackle (1 Viewer)

G

greenerisbetter

green is good but greener is better

• Jul 15, 2007

• #1

Hi,

taken today:

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa181/mike-birdforum/p7140444ppm002xcf.001.jpg

I had thought these were Great-Tailed Grackles. The very light breast conflicts with my ID book. Any thoughts?

tia,
mike

 

B

buckskin hawk

Oklahoma Birder

• Jul 15, 2007

• #2

Where were these taken?

 

Storm-Petrel

registered dude

• Jul 15, 2007

• #3

They look like Great-tailed Grackles to me. Maybe the light breast is just the way that female is pigmented or a trick of the light

 

Gentoo

Guest

• Jul 15, 2007

• #4

Based on the shape and coloration, I's say these are Great-Tailed.

 

P

PrairieFalcon

Registered User

• Jul 15, 2007

• #5

Yes they are Male and Female Great-tailed Grackles.

 

G

greenerisbetter

green is good but greener is better

• Jul 16, 2007

• #6

thanks everyone for the replies. initially, I had been thinking it might not be a grackle at all. it was taken at a lake in a city park with many small trees.

 

Last edited: Jul 16, 2007

birderbf

Wild, Wild West ................... ern Spindalis

• Jul 16, 2007

• #7

greenerisbetter said:

thanks everyone for the replies. i was thinking it might not be a grackle at all. it was taken at a lake in a city park with many small trees.

Click to expand...

I think Great-tailed is right, from my experiences with its cousin the Boat-tailed Grackle.

 

Last edited: Jul 16, 2007

njlarsen

Gallery Moderator

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Jul 17, 2007

• #8

Just a piece of advice: when someone wonders where they are taken, the first answer probably should include the state and city/town, and only secondly to that, the type of habitat

with friendly regards
Niels

 

T

Terry O'Nolley

Cow-headed Jaybird

• Jul 17, 2007

• #9

I would go with Great-tailed as well. The female Boat-tailed is pretty evenly colored and does not have that obvious color difference between bottom and top. Also, the flat head is a good fieldmark. Boat-tailed Grackle males have a much more rounded head shape. Finally, the shape of the bill and length relative to the head is a good indicator for Great-tailed Grackle.

Ignoring the obvious size differences (and the fact that Boat-tailed Grackles do not make it very far inland at all), the head shape and bills are great identifiers. GTG on left, BTG on right.

 

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G

greenerisbetter

green is good but greener is better

• Jul 18, 2007

• #10

Thanks yet again for the replies. In terms of grackle behaviour, i'm wondering about the tail conformation. Sometimes the feathers are held in a deep vee, and sometimes they are heald flat. I would think it might be for flight control, but it also varies when they are walking around ... so maybe it is part of their body language? Any ideas?

tia,
mike