boat-tailed grackle

The large male is black with lots of iridescence, with that giant tail standing out, while the females are quite a bit smaller and all brown. these two males seemed to be competing with each other for the attentions of the females - lots of head-raising and calling until one flew off

I think Boat-tailed, but maybe Common. We have a lot of BTs here. At Huntington Beach State Park, SC

The glossy black male boat-tailed grackle, with a purplish iridescent sheen in direct sun, flying noisily past me while calling out

Interesting that there were about 40 females in this area, but not one male. Males are all black. Then somewhere else I saw about 30 male red-winged blackbirds on a lawn but not one female. Almost never see them other then a single male or paired with the female. At Morse Park, Murrells...

Busch Gardens

Seen in Busch Gardens

Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major subsp. major) Male, species sexually dimorphic.

I found a couple of pairs of these along the waters edge. I've never seen water in this area before. A large part of the rice field area is flooded from the storm. At Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet, SC

At Huntington Beach State Park, SC

Taking the ferry to Paradise Island and all these grackles showed up. The attendant told us they go out with the other ferry because the attendant feeds them and when they are full they fly to the other ferry as it passes going the opposite way. Buggers are too full to fly the whole way back...

A fly by at Eagle Lakes Park, Naples.

I cannot make up my mind whether this is a Boat-tailed or Common. You can't see the full length of its tail in this shot but when it landed it appeared very long. I'm gonna go with Boat-tailed because it just appears more like the ones I just looked over.

The male has a brown eye, and that alone can tell you that this is a Florida or gulf coast bird.

Two ladies who's conversation was rudely interrupted by some commotion in the marsh.

A male struts along a sandy beach and the dunes looking for a bite to eat. In SW Florida it would have a dark eye.

A female taken within sight of the famous Hatteras Lighthouse.

Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major subsp. major) Male, species sexually dimorphic. The nominate is found in Texas and Louisiana and are restricted to coastal areas. Our Great-tailed grackle is also very common in the coastal areas but ranges every where else in the state as well. However...

I love detail, can you tell?

This male is doing A nice job of showing us that boat-tail.

but these grackles seem to be at ease around us humans, especially at the picnic table.

Even the male gives a stately and alert appearance.