ID red winged blackbird size in E. Ontario (1 Viewer)

S

Sandra_ON

Well-known member

• Aug 13, 2018

• #1

I saw this bird this morning trying to enter a flicker's nest. I thought it might be a juvenile grackle. This was in a woodsy area of our local park in Smiths Falls, Ontario.

Sandra Merrikin

 

Attachments

• 
  1-? Bird.jpg

  83.5 KB · Views: 45

D

Dave B Smith

Well-known member

• Aug 13, 2018

• #2

How about a Starling? They are cavity nesters as well as opportunistic feeders on small nestlings of other species.

 

Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Aug 13, 2018

• #3

Starling it is

 

nartreb

Speak softly and carry a long lens

• Aug 13, 2018

• #4

Yes. While the overall pattern of iridescence is similar to that of a grackle, the very visible feather edges, with spotting on the mantle, is unique to starlings. Also, starlings have much shorter tails -- that's probably what made you think of a fledgling.