GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE 



scapulars, and wing quills (these with some 

 yellow and white edgings) and middle tail 

 feathers, black; remaining plumage including 

 wing coverts and greater part of outer tail feathers 

 (presenting a yellow under tail surface) lemon 

 yellow. 



Young. The yellow in plumage of adults re- 

 placed by yellowish olive green and olive; wing 

 quills dusky with some dull yellow edgings; the 

 middle tail feathers dusky olive. 



This is the commonest of the orioles (and is 

 often seen in trees along the roadsides). The 

 lighter yellow of its coloring and the conspicuous 

 yellow wing coverts serve to distinguish it from 

 /. giraudi which has the wings practically black. 

 Its song consists of varied combinations of loud, 

 sweet, whistled notes of different pitches. "The 

 bird is something of a ventriloquist, at times 

 beginning its song in a low tone as if far away, 

 and gradually leading up to its full volume, when 

 one discovers the bird close at hand instead of 

 far away in the plantation, as at first supposed." 

 (Richmond.) 



15. Megaquiscalus major assimilis (Sclater) 

 Great-tailed Grackle 



Megaquiscalus major macrourus RIDGWAY, Birds of N. 

 and M. Amer., II, p. 238, 1902; STONE, Proc. Phila. 

 Acad. Nat. Sci., 1918, p. 280. 



Male. Length about 422 mm. (16.70 in.); 

 tail about 217 mm. (8.60 in.). Plumage black 

 43 6 



