Flex9050 Loc: Taloga, Ok

I had no idea Grackles were so iridescent until this guy showed up yesterday at sunset!

(Download)

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

Beautiful work, Mark. Sharp detail and the colors are super!

rdrechsler Loc: Channel Islands Harbor, CA

Beautiful image. You captured the color and luster very well.

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

'A Grackle of a Different Color'....yes you captured their iridescence well

Flex9050 Loc: Taloga, Ok

Thanks, Carol!

Flex9050 Loc: Taloga, Ok

Appreciate that, Dick!

Flex9050 Loc: Taloga, Ok

Thank you, Blaster! I had no idea they looked like that!

gmango85

Thank you for a great picture! Grackles are worse than crows. But you capture this one. Thank you

Flex9050 Loc: Taloga, Ok

Thanks,gmango85! So far I've only seen one here at the farm. The bird we get out here the most is red wings blackbirds, and they're almost as bad...

MJKilpatrick Loc: Cape May, NJ

Hi Flex9050,

Neat looking Grackle.....its a Common Grackle but the body color points it to the interior continental population. That more brighter yellowish bronze iridescent on the body with the more blue iridescent head and that small area of lighter greenish/blue on the back of its neck (probably also present on the lower neck on the front of the bird) is consistent with the interior Common Grackle which makes sense if the photo was taken in Oklahoma.

Localized Florida populations look different, shame shape, but a more greenish look to the color on the body, more purple on the head and more darker true blue on the back of neck and under the lower neck. The variety we have on the East Coast has a more brownish body color and more purple violet in the head. That iridescent can indicate what population the bird represents. Kinda puts a more interesting twist to a Grackle.

They are very smart and intelligent birds, and have more advanced language than most birds......just a step down from the crows. In addition to the Common Grackle, we have two other species in North America. The boat-tailed grackle has a huge, V-shaped tail in flight that looks like a rudder, easy to distinguish from a Common Grackle, especially in flight. The boat-tailed grackle ranges along the East and Gulf Coasts but that does not mean one will not stray inland. The other is the Great-tailed Grackle and they are more interior and West on the continent. Where a boat-tailed would not commonly stray into Oklahoma, the Great-tailed is likely. It is larger, has a long diamond shaped tail and a much longer , some what curved bill than the Common Grackle.....it also will appear more angular than the Common and Boat-tailed. Keep your eyes out for them, they are also an interesting looking bird, maybe you can add a photo of a Great-tailed Grackle to go along with your fine photo of the interior Common Grackle.

With My Best,

photophile Loc: Lakewood, Ohio, USA

Nice lighting.

Flex9050 Loc: Taloga, Ok

Thanks for the info, MJ!

Flex9050 Loc: Taloga, Ok

Thank you, photophile! About 30-40 minutes before sundown.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Great capture! Wonderful detail and color.
👍👍

Flex9050 Loc: Taloga, Ok

Thanks, Mike!