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;Quiscalus major | ;Quiscalus major | ||
[[Image:Boat-tailed_Grackle.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by David Roach]] | [[Image:Boat-tailed_Grackle.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by David Roach]] | ||
| − | + | ==Identification== | |
| − | + | Males 16-17" (41-43 cm)<br/> | |
| − | ==Identification | + | Females 12-13" (30-33 cm) |
| − | Males 16-17" (41-43 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==== | |
| − | ==Habitat | + | [[Common Grackle]] smaller; female lacks paler breast. |
| + | |||
| + | Very similar to [[Great-tailed Grackle]] | ||
| + | *Averages shorter-tailed | ||
| + | *Rounder headed | ||
| + | *Relatively long legs | ||
| + | *Long slender bill | ||
| + | *Distinctive voice | ||
| + | *Eye color differs | ||
| + | **White eye on Atlantic coast | ||
| + | **Brown eye on Gulf coast | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Distribution== | ||
| + | Resident along coasts from New Jersey south and west to Louisiana; also inland in peninsular Florida. | ||
| + | ==Habitat== | ||
Marshes along the coast; in Florida, also on farmlands. | Marshes along the coast; in Florida, also on farmlands. | ||
| − | + | ==Behavior== | |
| − | + | ====Food==== | |
| − | ==Food | ||
Mostly insects and plant matter. Lesser quantities of aquatic invertebrates and reptiles or amphibians | Mostly insects and plant matter. Lesser quantities of aquatic invertebrates and reptiles or amphibians | ||
| − | + | ====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. | 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. | ||
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==Voice: == | ==Voice: == | ||
| − | Harsh jeeb-jeeb-jeeb-jeeb, unlike the whistles and clucks of the Great-tailed Grackle. | + | Harsh ''jeeb-jeeb-jeeb-jeeb'', unlike the whistles and clucks of the [[Great-tailed Grackle]]. |
| − | |||
==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. | + | 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. |
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Quiscalus+major}} | {{GSearch|Quiscalus+major}} | ||
[[Category:Birds]] | [[Category:Birds]] | ||
Revision as of 22:17, 30 December 2007
- Quiscalus major
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 Grackle
- Averages shorter-tailed
- Rounder headed
- Relatively long legs
- Long slender bill
- Distinctive voice
- Eye color differs
- White eye on Atlantic coast
- Brown eye on Gulf coast
Distribution
Resident along coasts from New Jersey south and west to Louisiana; also inland in peninsular Florida.
Habitat
Marshes along the coast; in Florida, also on farmlands.
Behavior
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.
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.
