Quiscalus major ORDER: PASSERIFORMES FAMILY: ICTERIDAE
IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern
© Marie Read
A large, long-tailed blackbird, the Boat-tailed Grackle is found exclusively along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of the United States. The noisy, iridescent, purple-black male is hard to miss when it displays on power lines and telephone poles. The smaller brown female is much less conspicuous, and might even be mistaken for a different species.
Song a variable series of sharp notes and harsh guttural trills. Calls sharp "chek" notes and whistles.