Boat-tailed Grackle
Quiscalus major. This a male Boat-tailed Grackle. The range of this species is limited to the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the US from Long Island south to Florida and then west to Texas. It is only found in narrow strip adjacent to the coast except in Florida where it also occurs inland. The very pale iris of this birds is a feature of the Atlantic populations south to northern Florida. Those in the rest of Florida and the Gulf coast have a darker iris. In Cape May we only saw them right on the coast adjacent to saltmarshes. I photographed this one from the upper viewing area at Ocean City rookery. They are omnivorous and will take the eggs of herons and egrets, so this bird may be on the lookout for an unguarded nest.
Boat-tailed Grackle
Quiscalus major. This a male Boat-tailed Grackle. The range of this species is limited to the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the US from Long Island south to Florida and then west to Texas. It is only found in narrow strip adjacent to the coast except in Florida where it also occurs inland. The very pale iris of this birds is a feature of the Atlantic populations south to northern Florida. Those in the rest of Florida and the Gulf coast have a darker iris. In Cape May we only saw them right on the coast adjacent to saltmarshes. I photographed this one from the upper viewing area at Ocean City rookery. They are omnivorous and will take the eggs of herons and egrets, so this bird may be on the lookout for an unguarded nest.