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==Identification:== | ==Identification:== | ||
− | + | Males 16-17" (41-43 cm); females 12-13" (30-33 cm). Tail very long and keel-shaped. Male black, iridescent blue on back and breast; yellow or brown eyes. Female smaller, brown with paler breast. | |
<p> | <p> | ||
==Similar species: == | ==Similar species: == | ||
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==Habitat: == | ==Habitat: == | ||
− | + | Marshes along the coast; in Florida, also on farmlands. | |
<p> | <p> | ||
==Food:== | ==Food:== | ||
− | + | Mostly insects and plant matter. Lesser quantities of aquatic invertebrates and reptiles or amphibians | |
<p> | <p> | ||
==Nesting: == | ==Nesting: == | ||
− | + | 3 or 4 pale blue eggs, spotted and scrawled with brown and purple, in a bulky cup of grass, mud, and decayed vegetation placed from 2 to 10' (60 cm to 3 m) up in marsh grass or bushes. | |
<p> | <p> | ||
==Range: == | ==Range: == | ||
− | + | Resident along coasts from New Jersey south and west to Louisiana; also inland in peninsular Florida. | |
<p> | <p> | ||
==Voice: == | ==Voice: == | ||
− | + | Harsh jeeb-jeeb-jeeb-jeeb, unlike the whistles and clucks of the Great-tailed Grackle. | |
<p> | <p> | ||
==Discussion: == | ==Discussion: == | ||
− | + | This species and its close relative the Great-tailed Grackle were thought to be a single species until it was found that both nest in southwestern Louisiana without interbreeding.</i> | |
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
*[http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showgallery.php?si=Quiscalus+major&x=13&y=13&perpage=12&sort=1&cat=all&ppuser=&friendemail=email%40yourfriend.com&password= View more images of Boat-tailed Grackle in the gallery] | *[http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showgallery.php?si=Quiscalus+major&x=13&y=13&perpage=12&sort=1&cat=all&ppuser=&friendemail=email%40yourfriend.com&password= View more images of Boat-tailed Grackle in the gallery] | ||
[[Category:Birds]] | [[Category:Birds]] |
Revision as of 14:04, 21 July 2007
- Quiscalus major
Description
Identification:
Males 16-17" (41-43 cm); females 12-13" (30-33 cm). Tail very long and keel-shaped. Male black, iridescent blue on back and breast; yellow or brown eyes. Female smaller, brown with paler breast.
Similar species:
Common Grackle smaller; female lacks paler breast. Very similar to Great-tailed; averages shorter-tailed and rounder headed, with relatively long legs; long, slender bill; and distinctive voice. Eye color differs where range overlaps: white eye on the atlantic, brown eye on the gulf coast.
Habitat:
Marshes along the coast; in Florida, also on farmlands.
Food:
Mostly insects and plant matter. Lesser quantities of aquatic invertebrates and reptiles or amphibians
Nesting:
3 or 4 pale blue eggs, spotted and scrawled with brown and purple, in a bulky cup of grass, mud, and decayed vegetation placed from 2 to 10' (60 cm to 3 m) up in marsh grass or bushes.
Range:
Resident along coasts from New Jersey south and west to Louisiana; also inland in peninsular Florida.
Voice:
Harsh jeeb-jeeb-jeeb-jeeb, unlike the whistles and clucks of the Great-tailed Grackle.
Discussion:
This species and its close relative the Great-tailed Grackle were thought to be a single species until it was found that both nest in southwestern Louisiana without interbreeding.