adult male; long keeled tail; glossy blue-black (California, USA; 2006-04-01)


Great-tailed Grackle
Quiscalis mexicanus

Native Range: North America and Latin America

Notes: western counterpart of the Boat-tailed Grackle in the eastern USA; strong sexual dimorphism; a large, lanky, long-tailed dark bird of diverse open habitats including urban parks; forms leks in which several males communally display in attempts to attract females;


adult female; much browner than male (California, USA; 2006-04-01)
adult female; note also yellow eye (California, USA; 2006-05-28)

adult female; note also long sturdy bill (California, USA; 2007-04-28)
male displaying in flight (California, USA; 2010-05-31)

males display by pointing bills skyward on lek (California, USA; 2007-03-03)
male strutting his stuff (California, USA; 2006-04-01)

male posing (Panama; 2008-05-15)
female posing (Panama; 2008-05-15)

female posing for a head shot (Panama; 2008-05-15)