DESCBIPTIVE LIST 225 



KEY TO SPECIES 



1. Color of head and neck not sharply denned against color of body, which has always more or 

 less mixed metallic tints. Purple Grackle. 



1. Color of head and neck uniform, sharply denned against color of body, which is always per- 

 fectly uniform bronze without mixed metallic tints. Bronzed Grackle. 



210. Quiscalus quiscula quiscula (Linn.). PURPLE GRACKLE. 



Description. Iridescent black. Body always with mixed metallic tints; color of head and 

 neck very variable, iridescent bars along back. Female somewhat duller. Extreme measure- 

 ments of 31 specimens from Raleigh: L., 10.75-12.75; W., 4.85-5.75; T., 4.06-5.45. 



Range. Atlantic coast of United States, south of Connecticut, and east of the Alleghany 

 Mountains; breeding in greater or less numbers throughout its range. 



Range in North Carolina. Whole State, common during the migrations, less common in winter, 

 and breeding locally in all sections. 



FIG. 177. PURPLE GRACKLE. 



The Purple Grackle or Crow Blackbird, easily distinguished from our other 

 inland blackbirds by its larger size, longer tail, and hoarse notes, is not an uncom- 

 mon bird in most parts of the State during portions of February, March, October, 

 and November, when it is migrating. As a breeding bird it is quite local, though 

 known to breed at Greensboro, in the grounds of the Greensboro Female College; in 

 Craven County below New Bern; on Orton Pond, in Brunswick County, and within 

 the city limits of Asheville. It has also been twice observed near Raleigh in June. 



The nest is usually placed in a pine or other coniferous tree, and is often a very 

 bulky structure. Twigs and grass are the materials most commonly used in its con- 

 struction. Frequently it is situated at a considerable height from the ground, but 

 where suitable trees are not accessible it will be placed in bushes or even in crevices 

 in the sides of the nest of the Osprey. The eggs are four to six, laid in our latitude 

 usually in April or early May. They have a greenish white or rusty brown ground- 

 color, over which are scattered many spots and scratches of black or chocolate. 

 Size 1.18 x .84. 



The Purple Grackle is eminently gregarious at all seasons. In spring it often 

 feeds with other blackbirds on the newly sown grain-fields, and later will gather in 

 the tops of tall pines, flying from one to another, and apparently feeding on the 

 pine seeds. It nests in colonies of from ten to twenty or more pairs. 



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