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| − | + | [[Image:Great-tailedGrackleIMG 3174.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Male, subspecies ''nelsoni''<br />Photo © by {{user|jmorlan|Joseph Morlan}}<br /> Pacifica, [[California]], [[USA]] 26 April 2020]] | |
| − | [[Image:Great- | ||
;[[:Category:Quiscalus|Quiscalus]] mexicanus | ;[[:Category:Quiscalus|Quiscalus]] mexicanus | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | A large (40cm) totally black bird (M) with a long, sharp bill and an impressively long tail that is held vertically in flight, like a boat rudder. The yellow eye is diagnostic. The female is brown with lighter underparts, and with a shorter tail. | + | [[File:Great-tailed_Grackle_Female_JMR.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female<br />Photo © by {{user|jmorlan|Joseph Morlan}}<br />San Francisco, [[California]], [[USA]], 3 April 2021]] |
| + | A large (40cm) totally black bird (M) with a long, sharp bill and an impressively long tail that is held vertically in flight, like a boat rudder. The yellow eye is diagnostic. The plumage of the male shows many colors in sunlight due to iridescence; blues and greens predominate.<br /> | ||
| + | |||
| + | The female is brown with lighter underparts, and with a shorter tail. | ||
====Similar Species==== | ====Similar Species==== | ||
| + | [[Image:8242605-4303fg First year Great-tailed Grackle.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo © by {{user|bobsofpa|bobsofpa}}<br />Kenedy County, [[Texas]], [[USA]], April 2005]] | ||
On Gulf Coast, can be distinguished from [[Boat-tailed Grackle]] by eye color. | On Gulf Coast, can be distinguished from [[Boat-tailed Grackle]] by eye color. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | In the [[United States]] found from southern [[California]] east to [[Iowa]] south to [[Louisiana]]. Also found throughout [[Central America]] south to [[Peru]]. | + | [[File:Great-tailed_Grackle_Qm-prosopidicola_STJN.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Male, Subspecies '' Q. m. prosopidicola ''<br />Photo © by {{user|Stanley+Jones|Stanley Jones}}<br />Galveston Island, Galveston, [[Texas]], [[USA]], 4 May 2021]] |
| + | In the [[United States]] found from southern [[California]] east to [[Iowa]] south to [[Louisiana]]. Also found throughout [[Mexico]] and [[Central America]] south to [[Peru]]. Continues to expand range including into Northern California. | ||
| + | |||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | + | [[Image:Great-tailed Grackle (male) flying, Veterans Park, College Station, Brazos County.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo © by {{user|Stanley_Jones|Stanley Jones}}<br />Veterans Park and Athletic Complex, College Station, Brazos County, [[Texas]], April 2024]] | |
| − | [[Image: | + | Formerly lumped with [[Boat-tailed Grackle]] |
| − | + | ====Subspecies==== | |
| + | |||
| + | This is a [[Dictionary_P-S#P|polytypic]] species consisting of eight subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>: | ||
*''Q. m. nelsoni'': | *''Q. m. nelsoni'': | ||
| − | :*South-eastern [[California]] to southern [[Arizona]] and western [[Mexico]] (north-eastern [[Baja]] and southern Sonora) | + | :*South-eastern [[California]] to southern [[Arizona]] and western [[Mexico]] (north-eastern [[Baja California]] and southern Sonora) |
*''Q. m. monsoni'': | *''Q. m. monsoni'': | ||
:*South-eastern [[Arizona]] to western [[Texas]] and Mexican Plateau to Jalisco and Guanajuato | :*South-eastern [[Arizona]] to western [[Texas]] and Mexican Plateau to Jalisco and Guanajuato | ||
| Line 30: | Line 37: | ||
:*Pacific coast of [[Costa Rica]] to north-western [[Peru]] and north-western [[Venezuela]] | :*Pacific coast of [[Costa Rica]] to north-western [[Peru]] and north-western [[Venezuela]] | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
| − | They can be found in a wide variety of habitats; marshes, wetlands, hill bushy areas, golf courses and | + | They can be found in a wide variety of habitats; marshes, wetlands, hill bushy areas, golf courses, gardens, and shopping malls. |
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| + | In hot areas they will drink from any water available including swimming pools, and they may even take a voluntary swim! | ||
| + | |||
| + | They are social, particularly at dusk when they gather in sizeable flocks to roost in trees. | ||
| + | ====Diet==== | ||
| + | Great-tailed grackles frequent urban landscapes, often feeding in highly-developed areas such as parking lots. They will eat almost anything. | ||
| + | ====Vocalisation==== | ||
| + | They can be noisy, especially during breeding displays, when the male issues loud calls at what looks to be great physical effort. | ||
| + | <br /> | ||
| + | <br /> | ||
| + | {{ Audio|Great-tailedGrackleMVI 3167.mp3 }} | ||
| + | [[Media:Great-tailedGrackleMVI 3167.mp3|Listen to a voice clip]]<br /> | ||
| + | Recording © by {{user|jmorlan|Joseph Morlan}}<br /> | ||
| + | Pacifica, [[California]], 26 April 2020 | ||
| + | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | #{{Ref- | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug19}}#BirdForum Member Observations |
| + | #Johnson, K. and B. D. Peer (2020). Great-tailed Grackle (''Quiscalus mexicanus''), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole and F. B. Gill, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.grtgra.01 | ||
| + | #Fraga, R. (2020). Great-tailed Grackle (''Quiscalus mexicanus''). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/62287 on 2 May 2020). | ||
{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
| + | |||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
| − | {{GSearch|Quiscalus | + | {{GSearch|"Quiscalus mexicanus" {{!}} "Great-tailed Grackle"}} |
| + | {{GS-checked}}1 | ||
| + | <br /> | ||
| + | <br /> | ||
| + | |||
[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Quiscalus]] | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Quiscalus]] | ||
Latest revision as of 20:56, 4 April 2024
- Quiscalus mexicanus
Identification
A large (40cm) totally black bird (M) with a long, sharp bill and an impressively long tail that is held vertically in flight, like a boat rudder. The yellow eye is diagnostic. The plumage of the male shows many colors in sunlight due to iridescence; blues and greens predominate.
The female is brown with lighter underparts, and with a shorter tail.
Similar Species
On Gulf Coast, can be distinguished from Boat-tailed Grackle by eye color.
Distribution
Male, Subspecies Q. m. prosopidicola
Photo © by Stanley Jones
Galveston Island, Galveston, Texas, USA, 4 May 2021
Photo © by Stanley Jones
Galveston Island, Galveston, Texas, USA, 4 May 2021
In the United States found from southern California east to Iowa south to Louisiana. Also found throughout Mexico and Central America south to Peru. Continues to expand range including into Northern California.
Taxonomy
_flying,_Veterans_Park,_College_Station,_Brazos_County.jpg)
Photo © by Stanley Jones
Veterans Park and Athletic Complex, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, April 2024
Veterans Park and Athletic Complex, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, April 2024
Formerly lumped with Boat-tailed Grackle
Subspecies
This is a polytypic species consisting of eight subspecies[1]:
- Q. m. nelsoni:
- South-eastern California to southern Arizona and western Mexico (north-eastern Baja California and southern Sonora)
- Q. m. monsoni:
- Q. m. prosopidicola:
- South-eastern New Mexico to southern Texas, Coahuila, San Luis Potosí and southern Tamaulipas
- Q. m. graysoni:
- Coastal north-western Mexico (Sinaloa)
- Q. m. obscurus:
- Coastal south-western Mexico (Nayarit to Guerrero)
- Q. m. mexicanus:
- Q. m. loweryi:
- Coastal Yucatán Peninsula, Belize and adjacent offshore islands
- Q. m. peruvianus:
- Pacific coast of Costa Rica to north-western Peru and north-western Venezuela
Habitat
They can be found in a wide variety of habitats; marshes, wetlands, hill bushy areas, golf courses, gardens, and shopping malls.
Behaviour
In hot areas they will drink from any water available including swimming pools, and they may even take a voluntary swim!
They are social, particularly at dusk when they gather in sizeable flocks to roost in trees.
Diet
Great-tailed grackles frequent urban landscapes, often feeding in highly-developed areas such as parking lots. They will eat almost anything.
Vocalisation
They can be noisy, especially during breeding displays, when the male issues loud calls at what looks to be great physical effort.
Listen to a voice clip
Recording © by Joseph Morlan
Pacifica, California, 26 April 2020
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- BirdForum Member Observations
- Johnson, K. and B. D. Peer (2020). Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole and F. B. Gill, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.grtgra.01
- Fraga, R. (2020). Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/62287 on 2 May 2020).
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Great-tailed Grackle. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 21 December 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Great-tailed_Grackle
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
