Grackle? (1 Viewer)

[lassa8]

Another old photo labeled as "blackbird." I'm leaning towards common grackle. Any thoughts? Taken in northeast Missouri in April 2004.

 

[Katy Penland]

I'd say it's either a Brewer's or a Rusty Blackbird based on the size/shape of the bill and shape/length of tail. With the color variegation, I think I'd lean more toward Brewer's, but I'm not at all familiar with Rusty, so maybe Larry or some of our other Missouri specialists can chime in here.

 

[weather]

I would have to go with Common Grackle, because of the multicolored iridescence.

Large blackbird.
Iridescent black all over.
Long tail, keel-shaped in flight.
Eyes yellow.

Mike

 

[snowyowl]

Sorry to disagree, Kate but in my view, this is definitelyl a Common Grackle. The colour of the main part of the body is wrong for Brewer's but right for C. Grackle. The tail appears to be too long for either Brewer's or Rusty BB. The bill is tough in the picture but appears to me to be long and heavy with the typical Grackle curve. Lastly, the whole "jizz" of the bird cries Grackle.

 

[Tammie]

Yup, 100% common grackle. Along with the irridicence (sp?), don't forget about that lovely navy blue head that grackles have.

 

[Larry Lade]

I agree with the proponents of the Common Grackle. The bird looks pretty robust and the coloration is correct for this species.

Brewer's are smaller more delicate and so are Rusties. Also Rusties would not show this iridescence.

 

[buckskin hawk]

I agree with the proponents of the Common Grackle. The bird looks pretty robust and the coloration is correct for this species.

Brewer's are smaller more delicate and so are Rusties. Also Rusties would not show this iridescence.

I use this to id them visually: Common Grackles have a sheen to the head and slightly down the front with dull dark brown wings as this one but the blackbirds tend to be more very dark green/black on the wings and back and this green also has a sheen. The bill shape is more pronounced on the grackles than the blackbirds. I think it is a common grackle. One note however is that there are color variations in the population of common grackles. They have a distinctive sound. Grackles are loud. Try the Cornell site to listen to the songs. http://www.birds.cornell.edu/programs/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Common_Grackle.html#fig1

 

[Katy Penland]

Yep, that's what I said, Common Grackle. :bounce: