[tn-bird] Re: Great-tailed Grackle - Island 13
- From: OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx
- To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 19 Aug 2002 22:07:44 EDT
In a message dated 8/19/02 1:05:25 PM Central Daylight Time,
cmmbirds@xxxxxxxxx writes:
> sound! Great-tailed makes sounds that one wouldn't normally
> associate with any living being. such as white noise ala tv on wrong
> station.
Unfortunately the bird made not a sound while I was watching it but it was an
adult male bird in only very slightly worn plumage. It had lost one tail
feather on the right side. The head shape on a full adult bird when seen well
is pretty close to being fool proof, with flat head, no forehead to speak of
coming straight back from the bill on the same plane and a squared off back
to the head which I find very different from the abrupt forehead and round
head on a BT adult.
The length of the tail as compared to body size is very different between the
two species. The tail on a GT is as long as the body but falls way short on a
BT. I had both Fish and Common Crows within yards of this bird during the
sighting for comparison of length. Although the GT averages 2" longer than
BT, it averages over 10% less in weight and this accentuates the length of
the bird. The central tail feathers on the bird were the longest feathers in
the tail and the glossy mantle and body color extended down over all the
coverts giving a very uniform look other than the very shiny purple color of
the head and cape.
The Great-tailed is fast expanding its range whereas the BT is only a rare
off the coast vagrant. I would also expect the BT if found here to have a
dark or darker eye like the Gulf coast birds rather than the clear straw
color that this bird had. I'm open to any other ID suggestions but feel more
than comfortable with this bird being a Great-tailed. Since we found the last
birds up that way I keep a constant eye out for odd black birds.
The best thing one can do is study the common birds every time you are in the
field!!
Good Birding!!!
Jeff R. Wilson
OL' COOT / TLBA
Bartlett Tenn.
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