LittleRed wrote:
They strut across the yard, resplendent in their regal purple robes, reminding us of a King or Prince from earlier times. But in reality they are thugs, bullies, destroyers of other birds eggs, and the killers of baby songbirds. They are in some respects the "Hells Angels" of the birding kingdom.
They arrive in flocks and within a very short time eat everything in sight including all that is animal, vegetable and sometimes I think, mineral. If it isn't nailed down it's gone. They are in all aspects a true nemesis for those whom watch and feed the birds.
They may look purty, but for the most parts they are a pest, and not welcome, especially to my yard.
I've also included a few pics of one of his distant cousins from the gulf coast of Texas, the Great-tailed Grackle. They are just a obnoxious down there as they are up here in Canada.
Ron
They strut across the yard, resplendent in their r... (
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Your description is spot on. We used to have them by the hundreds in my and my neighbor's trees, pooping on everything. Some Coopers hawks moved in and now we get only a handful.