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Hi while on Cape Sable Island we saw the B.T. Grackl;e at the turn were the
brant sugn is then we saw it flying over the frist marsh at Danials head . I
studied them for a month at Nages head Peailand and and for a month at La.
and Texas were both birds were presant . I saw a Boat T. G. onm Minto st.
today a dark eyed rounded bird that maid the common gracles look small its
in the marsh in the the first marsh on monto st . I watched it at close
raing for about 30 min . no Camera but I try in the morning to get pictures
of it . The people were from N. M and they did not give me pict. as 1 birder
said about the Snowy plover as they do not take pict. all the best Peter in
Shelburrne if I see the bird in the morning I post it right away
-----Original Message-----
From: Clarence Stevens <birder_ca@yahoo.com>
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
Date: Saturday, May 30, 2009 12:43 AM
Subject: [NatureNS] Boat-tailed Grackle - Additional Details
After reading recent postings about the Boat-tailed Grackle on Cape Sable
Island I see that there may be some confusion about the identification of
this bird. I was surprised to learn that more people did not know that the
bird in question was a dark-eyed adult male.
On May 23 at Daniel’s Head (see initial posting for earlier details) this
bird was feeding in the company of Common Grackles, and in the scope, the
contrasting yellow eyes of the Common Grackles leaped out, while the dark
eyes of the Boat-tailed were very difficult to see.
Color wise another hint to its identification was the body & head plumage of
this individual. Compared to a Common Grackle there was much less contrast
between the head and body. This was because the bird lacked the bronze or
multicolored body of the Common, instead showing the much darker
greenish-blue iridescence of the Boat-tailed.
Structure wise there were a number features that pointed towards Boat-tailed
Grackle.
The first time we observed the grackle is was under heavy heat haze and the
bird kept disappearing into the crevices of the salt-marsh. We had to wait a
couple of hours for the rising tide to force it out into the open where it
could be easily viewed.
At the time it reemerged, it was feeding in close proximity to Common
Grackles, a Black-bellied Plover and a Willet and appeared longer than all
of them. We were also able to compare the grackle’s size to a number of
American Crows that were feeding throughout the marsh all of which were
longer and heavier. This was another feature that favored Boat-tailed over
Great-tailed.
Four different parties all came to the same conclusion, independent of one
another, that the size of this bird was much larger than a Common Grackle
but smaller than an American Crow.
Another structural feature that tipped the scales towards Boat-tailed
Grackle was its large rounded tail which was clearly not wedge-shaped.
Anyone watching for this bird should also be able to pick it out from Common
Grackles even at a great distance by its longer legs which causes it to
stand taller than the Common Grackles.
Most observers did not have the chance to see this bird in flight but Johnny
Nickerson who had it in his yard with 5 Common Grackles noted that it lacked
the undulating flight of the Common Grackle.
I should also note that before we saw this bird I knew status wise it is
much more likely for a Great-tailed Grackle to show up in Nova Scotia than a
Boat-tailed so upon seeing a large grackle, Great-tailed was the first
consideration. I was quite familiar with both species having seen hundreds
of each during my various travels south.
Finally in addition to the above field marks the fact that the bird had
spent at least 3 days feeding in a salt-marsh strengthens the case for it
being a Boat-tailed.
In total there were at least six observers of the Boat-tailed Grackle over a
period of 5 to 6 days. The observers included: Johnny Nickerson, Rachel
Hoogenbos, Aileen Smith, Julie Smith, myself and my Dad. All of which
contributed to details of this writeup.
I wish to emphasize that this was not an atypical Boat-tailed but a very
typical individual.
Before the season is over, I hope others have a chance to enjoy this amazing
dark-eyed grackle. - All the Best in Birding, Clarence
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