511. 



Quiscalus quiscula 



PERCHING BIRDS 



PURPLE GRACKLE. 

 quiscula. 



Range. Eastern United States from the Gulf 

 to Massachusetts; winters along the Gulf. 



This species, which is 

 I i commonly known as Crow 



Blackbird, nests in trees 



or bushes anywhere in its 



range, and on the coast 



frequently constructs its 



nests among the large 



sticks of Ospery nests. 



Large pines appear to be 



favorite sites for them to 

 locate their large nests of twigs, weeds, grass 

 and trash. They are placed at any elevation 

 from nearly on the ground to 50 feet above it. 

 The eggs range from three to five and are 

 greenish white, splashed, spotted and scrawl- 

 ed with various shades of brown and gray, and 

 with streaks of black. Size 1.10 x .80. The 

 nesting habits and eggs of the sub-species of 

 this Grackle do not differ in any particular. Like those of this variety the eggs 

 show an endless number of patterns of markings. 



Dull greenish 

 White 



Purple Grackle 



Bronzed Grackle 



51 la. FLORIDA GRACKLE. Quiscalus quiscula aglceus. 



Range. South Atlantic and Gulf States. 

 A smaller variety of the preceding; length about 

 inches. Eggs indistinguishable. 



1 1 



Quiscalus quiscula 



51 Ib. BRONZED GRACKLE. 

 ceneus. 



Range. North America east of the Rockies, breeding 

 from the Gulf to Hudson Bay and Labrador. Winters 



in the southern parts of the United States. This is the most common and 

 widely distributed of the Crow Blackbirds and is distinguished by the brassy 

 color of the upper parts. 



513. BOAT-TAILED GRACKLE. Megaquiscalus major major. 



Range. South Atlantic and Gulf States ; north to Virginia. 



This handsome bird measures about 16 inches in 

 length, is irridescent with purplish and greenish, and 

 has a very long, graduated and hollowed tail. These 

 Grackles are very abundant residents along the Gulf, 

 breeding in large colonies in swamps, placing their 

 nests of weeds, moss, grasses, etc., in bushes, trees, 

 cans or rushes, but a few inches above the water, while 

 those in trees are sometimes 50 feet above the ground. 

 The eggs are laid in March, April or May, are from 

 three to five in number, and are a dull bluish or grayish 

 white, streaked, lined, clouded and blotched with brown, black and gray; size 

 1.25 x. 95. 



323 



Grayish ^vhite 



