Brown-headed Cowbird, wrong bill, wrong place! central Yucatan, Mexico (1 Viewer)

sharifaone

Well-known member

• Jan 9, 2017

• #1

Birded around Chichen Itza in Dec. This bird's coloration appears like a brown-headed Cowbird, but Yucatan is not in its range, nor is the bill right (too long). Ditto for Bronzed Cowbird--wrong bill shape. This fellow was with Great-tailed Grackles and Melodious Blackbirds. I'd guess an immature GT Grackle... but the eye is brown, not pale. Are Melodious Blackbirds ever brown, perhaps when immature?

Stuck. Help appreciated.

 

KC Foggin

Very, very long time member

Supporter

• Jan 9, 2017

• #2

Looks like a Grackle to me.

 

Fiscalshrike

Well-known member

• Jan 9, 2017

• #3

http://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/portal/species/identification?p_p_spp=668236
says young birds are brownish black.
It looks a lot like a female Great-tailed Grackle in coloring, but the tail is wrong, and I expect the size is too.

 

njlarsen

Gallery Moderator

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Jan 10, 2017

• #4

Not a Melodious Blackbird, wrong size and shape of bill among other (see http://www.birdforum.net/opus/Melodious_Blackbird and then click the gallery search near the end of the page). Definitely a GT Grackle, juvie has brown eyes according to Howell and Webb.

Niels

 

sharifaone

Well-known member

• Jan 10, 2017

• #5

njlarsen said:

Not a Melodious Blackbird, wrong size and shape of bill among other (see http://www.birdforum.net/opus/Melodious_Blackbird and then click the gallery search near the end of the page). Definitely a GT Grackle, juvie has brown eyes according to Howell and Webb.

Niels

Click to expand...

Ah! That's why everyone says Howell and Webb is best. Van Perlo doesn't give such useful details. Thanks!

 

sharifaone

Well-known member

• Jan 10, 2017

• #6

Thank you KG Foggin, Fiscalshrike, and njlarsen for your input. I'll be putting it down as an immature GT Grackle.