[texbirds] Boat-tailed vs. Great-tailed Grackle - quiz answers

From: MBB22222@xxxxxxx
To: texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Tue, 19 Feb 2013 16:52:59 -0500 (EST)
Very interesting and learning experience. Thanks everyone who sent me  
emails. 
 
On my first posted photo I received no correct answers
_http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/148811762_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/148811762) 
This  is Boat-tailed Grackle - now when grackle males are displaying you 
can tell  apart Boat-tailed and Great-tailed noting the wing position. Wings 
raised above  back are distinctive for BTGR; GTGR holds wings level). BTW for 
example Sibley  included this trait as diagnostic. I have no knowledge of 
somebody else question  that and I never observed males from both species 
that did not follow this rule.  If somebody did it will be very interesting to 
hear about it and perhaps see  some photos and/or hear tape recordings. 
 
Second photo which I posted later brought all correct answers (BTW photo  
shows the same bird)
_http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/148820388_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/148820388) 
 
Then the third photo again I had no correct answers. Both grackles were  
IDed as Great-tailed or, very interesting, people were switching the Ids. 
_http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/148822024_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/148822024) 
 
I have no doubt that there is much, much  easier to ID grackles in the  
field and not from a single photo. On the top of it around here both species 
are  in contact zone and often seen together. Personally I have just a 
feeling, but  no proof, yet, that these species might hybridize in some places. 
 
As this subject seems not to trigger public discussion I plan to have soon  
video/sound uploaded of displaying BTGR males with pale eyes that will be  
accessible only by private link. If somebody is interested to see display 
and  hear their calls please send me a private email and I will send back the 
link,  when ready. Perhaps somebody with good ears can tell if there is a 
difference in  these calls compare to calls recorded in  populations where 
these two  species are not living together.
 
Mark B Bartosik
Houston, Texas
_http://www.pbase.com/mbb/from_the_field_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/mbb/from_the_field) 
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[texbirds] Boat-tailed vs. Great-tailed Grackle - quiz answers

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