Speaking Grackle 2059
So, Boat-tailed Grackles have dark eyes, right? Well, not exactly. Understanding "grackle speak" means understanding a little about the 3 species of grackles. There are three kinds of grackles: Common, Great-tailed, and Boat-tailed. The Common Grackle is, well, the most common. It lives east of the Rockies, is smaller than the other two kinds, and loves open agricultural areas, lawns, and avoids marshy areas. It is one of the birds that forms massive noisy flocks during the winter.
The Great-tailed Grackle has yellow eyes and lives in the southwest US and Mexico. Its range has expanded into some of the southeastern US also, where it overlaps with Boat-tailed Grackles.
Boat-tailed grackles live almost exclusively within about 20 to 30 miles of salt water, along the southeastern US and east coast. They have variable eye color. In the north they are yellow, but in the south, where they may overlap with the yellow eyed Great-tailed, their eyes are dark.
So, are you confused? Good! At least I'm not alone. Leave it to say that this is a male Boat-tailed Grackle taking to the air. Of course, the females of these three species are much more easily identified. Leave it to the women to get things right, again! #iLoveNature #iLoveWildlife #iLoveBirds #WildlifePhotography in #NewJersey #Nature in #NorthAmerica #America #USA #DrDADBooks #BoatTailedGrackles #Canon #FindYourPark #FYPyes #WildlifeConservation
Speaking Grackle 2059
So, Boat-tailed Grackles have dark eyes, right? Well, not exactly. Understanding "grackle speak" means understanding a little about the 3 species of grackles. There are three kinds of grackles: Common, Great-tailed, and Boat-tailed. The Common Grackle is, well, the most common. It lives east of the Rockies, is smaller than the other two kinds, and loves open agricultural areas, lawns, and avoids marshy areas. It is one of the birds that forms massive noisy flocks during the winter.
The Great-tailed Grackle has yellow eyes and lives in the southwest US and Mexico. Its range has expanded into some of the southeastern US also, where it overlaps with Boat-tailed Grackles.
Boat-tailed grackles live almost exclusively within about 20 to 30 miles of salt water, along the southeastern US and east coast. They have variable eye color. In the north they are yellow, but in the south, where they may overlap with the yellow eyed Great-tailed, their eyes are dark.
So, are you confused? Good! At least I'm not alone. Leave it to say that this is a male Boat-tailed Grackle taking to the air. Of course, the females of these three species are much more easily identified. Leave it to the women to get things right, again! #iLoveNature #iLoveWildlife #iLoveBirds #WildlifePhotography in #NewJersey #Nature in #NorthAmerica #America #USA #DrDADBooks #BoatTailedGrackles #Canon #FindYourPark #FYPyes #WildlifeConservation