The Boat-tailed Grackle – brown or dull yellow eyes, long keel-shaped tail, black overall, iridescent purple on head and back, black legs and black bill.
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Added to my Birding Life List on 04/10/93
(West Palm Beach, Florida)
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The Boat-tailed Grackle is a very large, glossy black bird.
The Boat-tailed Grackle’s common name refers to its long tail, often held in a V-shape to form a “keel.”
Found along the coast from Texas to Long Island, this songbird prefers salt and brackish marshes, where it breeds in colonies and socializes in noisy flocks.
The Boat-tailed Grackle has been expanding its range northward since the 1940’s, probably due to milder winters north of the Carolinas.
The female is a light, warm brown with dark brown wings and tail. The female’s “ear” is darker brown under a pale eyebrow. The eyes of both sexes are yellowish.
I photographed this beautiful bird while visiting the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge this past week.
Just as I am! Every Friday you may participate in Feathers on Friday at Prairie Birder.
Here is Charlotte’s Blog web-site:
http://prairiebirder.wordpress.com
This is another great Blog to learn about Birds!
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Enjoy Birdwatching!
It can be entertaining as well as educational!
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Note:Some of my information for this post was taken from Field Guide to Birds of North America.
Wolf Song Blog 
He really is gorgeous, Sheila. 🙂
When the sun is shinning just right on this guy they are gorgeous. I, like most people, am not a huge fan of grackles. However, I have to give credit to their beauty and intelligence! 🙂
That is quite the tail!
Isn’t it though! Can you imagine the tail on the Great-tailed. 🙂
Beautiful….he is quite “showy” with the reeds in the background!
Hello Gay, just got back to Internet service! We left South Llano State Park this morning! Wow, what a terrific birding experience we had. This state park is one of my very favorite parks. I counted 46 species of birds, perhaps a couple more that I was not sure of, didn’t see them long enough. Saw the Painted Bunting for the first time along with a few more! I hope you are traveling and having fun!
What a lovely picture! The snow in the background contrasts beautifully with the black feathers.
Hello Sheryl! Thank you for your follow and kind words. We are having a wonderful time birding in Texas!