Boat-tailed Grackle

Boat Tailed Grackles are one of my favorite birds. Years ago I saw a flock in which several members had white feathers mixed with their dark wing or tail feathers. I lived in Vero Lake Estates (near Sebastian) at the time. The largest male was pure blue-black. Maybe a genetic variation. I have never seen that since.

The adult male has black plumage, which in good light, has a bluish sheen on the head, changing to greenish on the body. The adult female has reddish brown plumage, darker on wings and tail. Her tail is somewhat shorter than in the male. The juveniles look like the adult female, but their color is duller.

The length of the Males is 16-17" (41-43 cm) and the Females are 12-13" (30-33 cm).

They are a locally common resident in coastal wetlands; mostly sedentary, but harsh winter weather does force some northern birds to move south. Within viewing range, their distinctive tails are easy to see. They range from Florida, Texas, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and Northeast

Their song is a mixture of strange dry rattles, hisses, and grating chatters. Their c... read moreall is a soft tchak.

They are a distinctive, usually coastal bird. They are easy to recognize by male's long, keel-shaped tail and sociable behavior. It feeds mainly on the ground, probing for food with its pointed bill, but it does take advantage of bird feeders. They eye is pale yellow in Atlantic coast birds, but brownish in Florida and Gulf coast birds. Sexes are different with the male being noticeably larger than female.