Comments on: Underrated Birds I: Boat-tailed Grackle http://jeffreyagordon.com/2008/10/underrated-birds-i-boat-tailed-grackle/ Birds and more, in Delaware and elsewhere Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:09:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Gallicissa http://jeffreyagordon.com/2008/10/underrated-birds-i-boat-tailed-grackle/comment-page-1/#comment-80 Gallicissa Fri, 17 Oct 2008 04:34:37 +0000 http://jeffreyagordon.com/?p=229#comment-80 We had the name 'Grackle' in the common names of 2 birds here, but they were changed to 'Myna' later on. So we are now Grackle-less. I love the 'personality' of these birds. We had the name ‘Grackle’ in the common names of 2 birds here, but they were changed to ‘Myna’ later on. So we are now Grackle-less. I love the ‘personality’ of these birds.

]]> By: jeff http://jeffreyagordon.com/2008/10/underrated-birds-i-boat-tailed-grackle/comment-page-1/#comment-79 jeff Fri, 17 Oct 2008 03:05:02 +0000 http://jeffreyagordon.com/?p=229#comment-79 Hi all-- Thanks for the nice comments--I really do appreciate hearing from readers! Klaus--your comment about identification and eye color is partially correct, but doesn't change the fact that this is a Boat-tailed. Boat-tailed Grackles have dark eyes (vs. the always-yellow eyes of Great-tailed) ONLY in their relatively narrow zone of range overlap along the Texas Gulf Coast. In most of their range, Boat-taileds have yellow eyes, just like Great-taileds. They are structurally and vocally distinct in all cases. This is a classic example of two closely related taxa evolving additional reproductive isolating mechanisms where they are sympatric. It presumably lowers the likelihood of hybridization and was one of the pieces of evidence used to split the two large grackles into separate species a couple of decades ago. Great-tailed Grackle has never been recorded within the state of Delaware, nor in any of our mid-Atlantic neighbors, as far as I know. This may change, though, as Great-tailed is certainly expanding its range, mostly to the west and north, though eastern vagrants are possible. Hi all–

Thanks for the nice comments–I really do appreciate hearing from readers!

Klaus–your comment about identification and eye color is partially correct, but doesn’t change the fact that this is a Boat-tailed.

Boat-tailed Grackles have dark eyes (vs. the always-yellow eyes of Great-tailed) ONLY in their relatively narrow zone of range overlap along the Texas Gulf Coast. In most of their range, Boat-taileds have yellow eyes, just like Great-taileds. They are structurally and vocally distinct in all cases.

This is a classic example of two closely related taxa evolving additional reproductive isolating mechanisms where they are sympatric. It presumably lowers the likelihood of hybridization and was one of the pieces of evidence used to split the two large grackles into separate species a couple of decades ago.

Great-tailed Grackle has never been recorded within the state of Delaware, nor in any of our mid-Atlantic neighbors, as far as I know. This may change, though, as Great-tailed is certainly expanding its range, mostly to the west and north, though eastern vagrants are possible.

]]> By: Larry http://jeffreyagordon.com/2008/10/underrated-birds-i-boat-tailed-grackle/comment-page-1/#comment-78 Larry Thu, 16 Oct 2008 23:55:29 +0000 http://jeffreyagordon.com/?p=229#comment-78 Hi Jeff, Those Great-tailed Grackles are beautiful, if only they didn't squawk so darn loud! I actually like their cool whistle. Nice photo! Hi Jeff, Those Great-tailed Grackles are beautiful, if only they didn’t squawk so darn loud! I actually like their cool whistle. Nice photo!

]]> By: Klaus http://jeffreyagordon.com/2008/10/underrated-birds-i-boat-tailed-grackle/comment-page-1/#comment-75 Klaus Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:06:51 +0000 http://jeffreyagordon.com/?p=229#comment-75 Great post! With one tiny flaw. The bird in the picture isn't a Boat Tailed Grackle! They do have dark eyes - yours looks like a Great Tailed Grackle. Very similar - just not the same! :) Cheers, Klaus Great post! With one tiny flaw. The bird in the picture isn’t a Boat Tailed Grackle!
They do have dark eyes – yours looks like a Great Tailed Grackle. Very similar – just not the same! :)
Cheers, Klaus

]]> By: dm http://jeffreyagordon.com/2008/10/underrated-birds-i-boat-tailed-grackle/comment-page-1/#comment-68 dm Mon, 13 Oct 2008 02:26:16 +0000 http://jeffreyagordon.com/?p=229#comment-68 I would love a t-shirt or a mug with a grackle on it. Grackles are beautiful and entertaining. And they typically congregate in the open spaces we create. For some reason I imagine grackles would taste bitter. Thanks for the great post! I would love a t-shirt or a mug with a grackle on it. Grackles are beautiful and entertaining. And they typically congregate in the open spaces we create. For some reason I imagine grackles would taste bitter.

Thanks for the great post!

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