Brewer’s Blackbird, Delaware, today? (1 Viewer)

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Byronix

Well-known member

• Mar 3, 2018

• #1

Hi all,

A friend of mine digiscoped this Blackbird at long distance, associating with Red-winged Blackbird. His (and my) impression is of a Brewer’s Blackbird rather than the more expected Rusty Blackbird or Common Grackle. What do you all think? Thanks!

 

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njlarsen

Gallery Moderator

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Mar 4, 2018

• #2

I am wondering about the eye color. Why do we not see a hint of a pale eye?

Niels

 

B

Byronix

Well-known member

• Mar 4, 2018

• #3

They observer said the pale eye was clear in his scope, though I agree it isn’t so apparent in these photos.

 

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tom baxter

Well-known member

• Mar 4, 2018

• #4

Rusty Blackbird for me, looks like a curved bill. I don't see any reason to think about Brewer's, not to mention it would be ill advised to conclude such a rarity from this type of photo. Why did you think it was not a Rusty?

 

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fugl

Well-known member

• Mar 4, 2018

• #5

tom baxter said:

Rusty Blackbird for me, looks like a curved bill. I don't see any reason to think about Brewer's, not to mention it would be ill advised to conclude such a rarity from this type of photo. Why did you think it was not a Rusty?

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Agree, bill’s wrong for Brewer’s (insofar as it’s possible to judge such things from the photos).

 

Last edited: Mar 4, 2018

KC Foggin

Very, very long time member

Supporter

• Mar 4, 2018

• #6

Looks good for a Rusty Blackbird.

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Mar 4, 2018

• #7

What about the white vent, or is that just a photo error?

 

The Bird Nuts

Birding Duo

• Mar 4, 2018

• #8

I think this is a Common Grackle. It appears larger than the Red-winged Blackbirds with a pretty large beak and I can see a bronze sheen on the back and underside and a bluish-purple sheen on the head.

 

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birdmeister

Well-known member

• Mar 4, 2018

• #9

The Bird Nuts said:

I think this is a Common Grackle. It appears larger than the Red-winged Blackbirds with a pretty large beak and I can see a bronze sheen on the back and underside and a bluish-purple sheen on the head.

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My first thought was Common Grackle as well, but I wouldn't hang my hat on that with these images.

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Mar 4, 2018

• #10

So what about the white vent / undertail coverts??

 

The Bird Nuts

Birding Duo

• Mar 4, 2018

• #11

Nutcracker said:

So what about the white vent / undertail coverts??

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They're just feathers shining in the light. They're not white.

 

njlarsen

Gallery Moderator

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Mar 4, 2018

• #12

The Bird Nuts said:

They're just feathers shining in the light. They're not white.

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I had to look at this: there is a little of the same effect on the tail of the Blackbird to the left

Niels

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Mar 4, 2018

• #13

The Bird Nuts said:

They're just feathers shining in the light. They're not white.

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I'm really struggling to see it as shining in the light, not least because the undertail area is typically one of the least reflective feather tracts (typically soft, loose feathers there). Also the patch is too large, covering too much curvature to reflect light from a point source. I'd suspect this bird is genuinely leucistic.

 

RafaelMatias

Unknown member

• Mar 4, 2018

• #14

Nutcracker said:

I'm really struggling to see it as shining in the light, not least because the undertail area is typically one of the least reflective feather tracts (typically soft, loose feathers there). Also the patch is too large, covering too much curvature to reflect light from a point source. I'd suspect this bird is genuinely leucistic.

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The pale bit of "plumage" on the undertail area is a bit of dry vegetation/foliage (a dry leaf?). Another very similar bit of "leucistic plumage" can be seen just to the right of the bird (still inside the red "circle") and a few more are scattered over the bush (bramble?). :t: :king:

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Mar 5, 2018

• #15

RafaelMatias said:

The pale bit of "plumage" on the undertail area is a bit of dry vegetation/foliage (a dry leaf?). Another very similar bit of "leucistic plumage" can be seen just to the right of the bird (still inside the red "circle") and a few more are scattered over the bush (bramble?). :t: :king:

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Aye, that's probably it, thanks! 3