Common Grackles might be a nuisance at feeders and in gardens and may be, well… common, but they do possess very beautiful colors! This one was showing off its iridescent plumage in Roger Williams Park on the afternoon of April 30:
Grackles are fearless, gregarious, and will feed on pretty much anything, which gives them a reputation for being rather uncouth. But individually they are striking birds, especially when the sunlight hits them just right. (And they seem to be well aware of this too!)
I photographed this one in the budding woods along the Pawtuxet River the day before, on April 29.
The Boat-tailed Grackle can be found along Florida and the Gulf Coast, and Texas, the plains states and Mexico have the largest variety, the Great-tailed Grackle. In all species the male has rich black and iridescent blue and purple plumage while the females are duller brown.
FAST FACT:
Some grackles have been known to nest inside the occupied nests of larger birds, like Osprey and Great Blue Herons!
Scientific name: Quiscalus quiscula
Rhode Island Bird Hunter 