122 Land Birds of New England 



FAMILY 



66. PURPLE GRACKLE ; CROW BLACKBIRD 



{Quiscahis quiscula.} 



Male: lustrous black above and below with purple reflections; 

 head, throat, and forebreast of a rich metallic blue, which varies 

 much in brilliance with age and condition. Beak black, very 

 large and strong ; feet black ; tail extremely long. Female : 

 similar, but black rather faded, and lustre less marked. Female 

 about the size of a robin, male distinctly larger. 



THE purple grackles come in early April, and stay 

 until November. On their first arrival they may 

 be met in large flocks on open land, sometimes 

 clinging to a solitary tree until they blacken all its 

 branches. 



TJic blackbirds clatter in* in tall trees, 



An' scttlin' things in windy congresses. LOWELL. 



During the summer they live in pairs, often asso- 

 ciated in communities, but come together in large 

 flocks for the autumn months. They may be found 

 on open ground, \valking instead of hopping over 

 the fields, and searching for the insects which form 

 a large part of their diet. Unfortunately for the 

 farmer, they may also be found in freshly planted 

 fields and amid ripening grain, where they feed 

 upon corn, often doing immense injury to crops. 



