Grackle sp at Sweetwater Tucson (1 Viewer)

[hgee]

Hi
Further to my previous post , I note in my records that I saw "a Grackle" at Sweetwater , Tucson in 2013
I thought it would be a common Grackle but my bird guide indicates that this sp is rare in AZ
Is it likely that I saw a Great tailed Grackle instead?
my notes just say " Grackle , all black with a yellow eye"
Thanks for any opinions

 

[raymie]

Great-tailed Grackle is the only species of grackle that occurs regularly in Arizona, and I can speak from firsthand experience that they are very common at Sweetwater Wetlands. So, yes.

 

[hgee]

Great-tailed Grackle is the only species of grackle that occurs regularly in Arizona, and I can speak from firsthand experience that they are very common at Sweetwater Wetlands. So, yes.

Hi Many thanks
Maybe you can answer another puzzle
I saw common nighthawk at Sweetwater in good light on the same visit , however , on visiting Saguaro East NP at dusk , I saw a nighthawk sp
my NatGeo guide indicates that Lesser nighthawk is seen in desert/scrub whereas Common nighthawk is seen in suburbs and towns
so is it likely I saw Lesser at Saguaro or are both found there?

 

[raymie]

Hi Many thanks
Maybe you can answer another puzzle
I saw common nighthawk at Sweetwater in good light on the same visit , however , on visiting Saguaro East NP at dusk , I saw a nighthawk sp
my NatGeo guide indicates that Lesser nighthawk is seen in desert/scrub whereas Common nighthawk is seen in suburbs and towns
so is it likely I saw Lesser at Saguaro or are both found there?

I'm not sure what the status of nighthawks is.

 

[Craig Thayer]

I have lived in Tucson since 2012 and visit Sweetwater Wetlands often. Although 330 species have been observed there, Common Nighthawk is not on the list nor has that species been seen at Saguaro NP East (that species is typically seen only in grassland habitat SE of Tucson)

Common Grackle is very rare in SE Arizona. It has only been seen once at Sweetwater (February 2010)