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Brewers Blackbird or Grackle..? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter nikovich
- Start date
Definitely Common Grackle (due to bill). Tails can sometimes appear short due to molting - I don't know if that specifically is what's going on with your bird, but also keep in mind that Grackles' tails look shorter (at least to me) when perched or in flight (vs. on ground).
Katy Penland
Well-known member
Don't think it's a grackle. It looks more like a Brewer's based on its droopy wings and green body plumage, where Common Grackle is brown on the body and holds its wings above the tail. Also, tail shape doesn't have that distinctive "rudder" look to it like all adult grackles have; and this bird is clearly an adult based on its color.
The shape of the bill isn't inconsistent with Brewer's I've seen, as they are definitely less pointy in real life than they are depicted in the field guides.
Where Nik is in Canada, it could also be a Rusty Blackbird, but I don't know enough about how the two blackbirds differ to guess which this might be.
The shape of the bill isn't inconsistent with Brewer's I've seen, as they are definitely less pointy in real life than they are depicted in the field guides.
Where Nik is in Canada, it could also be a Rusty Blackbird, but I don't know enough about how the two blackbirds differ to guess which this might be.
cavan wood
Well-known member
I'm waiting to be crushed, but I too think it's a grackle. A quick google search found many droopy winged grackles, and very few images of brewers with bills this robust. The tail looks fine to me for grackle, especially given the angle. The green body gloss does favour brewers but lights a tricky thing, especially in photos.
Scott
Scott
JANJ
Well-known member
Hi all.
The proportions (bigheaded, big billed) of the bird looks more Common Grackle like, and looking at the colour of this one (http://www.schmoker.org/BirdPics/Photos/Blackbirds/COGR4.jpg) surely makes a match (not perfect though) to subject bird. But then again Katy has a point refering to body colour as different from the subject one.
Can Blackbirds have a tail like that?
JanJ
The proportions (bigheaded, big billed) of the bird looks more Common Grackle like, and looking at the colour of this one (http://www.schmoker.org/BirdPics/Photos/Blackbirds/COGR4.jpg) surely makes a match (not perfect though) to subject bird. But then again Katy has a point refering to body colour as different from the subject one.
Can Blackbirds have a tail like that?
JanJ
Katy Penland said:
It isn't the pointiness (or lack thereof) of the bill that concerns me - it's the length vs. the head and the almost downward curvature that is not present in Brewer's (or Rusty, for that matter). A note on the tail - I agree with cavan wood - it looks rudder-like to me. Also, on the wings, I've seen Common Grackles with drooped wings all the time when perched.
Katy Penland
Well-known member
After sucking the photo into Photoshop and brightening it to hopefully get a better look at the plumage colors and that shadowed tail, you Grackle guys are right. 
While the color of the body still looks greenish, what's more important is that a clear line of demarcation shows between the head and the body, giving an almost hooded appearance, which is typical of Common Grackle and definitely not of Brewer's or Rusty where their head color just blends into the body seamlessly. As Scott says (as does Thayeri), color is a really tricky thing but that distinct hood convinced me.
The tail bothered me, too, as it looked worn or molting, but lightening it shows that grackle-like shape of the feathers that give it the rudder-like appearance.
Thanks for making me take a closer look at this guy! :t: I always learn something in this forum, especially when I'm dead wrong.
While the color of the body still looks greenish, what's more important is that a clear line of demarcation shows between the head and the body, giving an almost hooded appearance, which is typical of Common Grackle and definitely not of Brewer's or Rusty where their head color just blends into the body seamlessly. As Scott says (as does Thayeri), color is a really tricky thing but that distinct hood convinced me.The tail bothered me, too, as it looked worn or molting, but lightening it shows that grackle-like shape of the feathers that give it the rudder-like appearance.
Thanks for making me take a closer look at this guy! :t: I always learn something in this forum, especially when I'm dead wrong.
jcwings
Well-known member
This is a Common Grackle. Versicolor race. Looks like no Brewer's Blackbird I've ever seen, and I can see one every day of the week where I am. This bird's bill is too heavy and elongated. Almost corvid like. The hood is clearly visible, although Brewers has a hood too. It just doesn't extend to the center of the breast.
