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To the Beauty of Birds

The Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus is very well named. In flight its broad triangular “Great tail” identifies it from great distances. Up close it is equally dramatic with a prominent yellow-iris giving it looks that could kill.

Females have a brownish head and breast compared to that all black or dark blue of the male and I think they are stunning compared to the males. Up close and in the sun they are a beautiful bird.

Most of these birds were photographed in the parking lot of the Outlet Mall at Primm, NV. While Sally was in the stores shopping I was in the parking lot photographing Ravens and Great-trailed Grackles. A few breadcrumbs brought them so close I could almost touch them.

While on our tour of Guayaquil, Ecquador, on the way to the Galapagos, we took a tour of the city and passed a riverfront restaurant where Great-tailed Grackles were cavorting on the chairs (6113, 6116). While it is the same species as the one in the U.S. Quiscalus mexicanus I suspect it is a subspecies since the beak is longer and the clawed feet are larger and more imposing.

Those in the 1200 and 9000 series were photographed at the Galvaston Island State Park, TX.

The 2000 series birds were photographed in Costa Rica.

The Great-tailed Grackle belongs to the Icteridae family. It is sometimes referred to as a "blackbird" but is not related to any of the five species of Old World blackbirds of the Turdus genue but instead is a member of the New World Blackbirds. It. Similarly, it is often called “cuervo” in areas of Mexico, although it is not a member of the Corvus genus nor even of the Corvidae family.
It is a large bird with males reaching up to 17 in, including a tail that is almost as long as the body. This size of both the bird and the tail is apparent in photo 9736 of the Great-tailed Grackle on a car. They are jet-black with a violet-blue iridescent sheen to the feathers. Females are significantly smaller at 13 in and are mainly brownish-black, with a pale brown throat and belly.
The Great-tailed Grackle and Boat-tailed Grackles were once considered the same species. The iris of the Great-tailed Grackle is more prominent yellow than for the Boat-tailed Grackle.
Quiscalus is the genus of true grackles with the following 6 species:
Boat-tailed Grackle, Quiscalus major
Common Grackle, Quiscalus quiscula
Great-tailed Grackle, Quiscalus mexicanus
Nicaraguan Grackle, Quiscalus nicaraguensis
Greater Antillean Grackle, Quiscalus niger
Carib Grackle, Quiscalus lugubris

Great-tailed Grackle