Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)

Hiding in an ornamental tree next to Panda Express, this is an adult male. They are uncommon in San Mateo County, although seen regularly in the parking lot of this shopping center during the winter. Still expanding its range, this species was first recorded in California 1964 along the Colorado River. Birds in Northern California are presumably the smaller western Q. m. nelsoni but the larger more easterly Q. m. monsoni is reported to have reached California in the 1980's. The two apparently form a hybrid zone in the Southern California deserts. This species was formerly lumped with the similar Boat-tailed Grackle of the East and Gulf coasts.