Perching Birds Chiefly Gray, Black, or Black and White. 
509. Rusty Blackbird (Scolecophagus carolinus). 
L. 9.5. dd. 3. Nearly uniform greenish black, 
sometimes with rusty edgings. Ad. 2. Slaty gray, 
generally with some rusty edgings. Winter plumage 
of both sexes similar to summer but widely tipped with 
rusty above and yellowish rusty below. Notes. More 
musical than those of other Blackbirds; calls, teback or 
turalee repeated several times. (Bendire.) 
Range.— Eastern North America west to the Plains; breeds from 
New Brunswick, northern New England, northern New York, and 
Manitoba, north to Labrador and Alaska; winters from Virginia, 
southern Illinois, and Kansas, southward. 
510. Brewer Blackbird (Scolecophagus cyanocepha- 
lus). L.10. Ad. %. Whole head violet-purple, rest 
of plumage bright greenish black. Ad. 2. Grayish 
brown, throat paler, wings and tail greenish black: no 
rusty. Winter plumage with light grayish brown 
edgings to the feathers of the interior part of the body. 
Notes. Chack and a loud, shrill whistle. (Bailey.) 
Range.—Western North America from the Plains to the Pacific; 
breeds from Texas and northern Lower California north to the Sas- 
katchewan and British Columbia; winters in the southern parts of its 
range; Casually east to Mississippi River states. 
511. Purple Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula). L. gy 
12. Ad. J’. Head, purple, steel-green or steel blue; 
back purple, brassy green or greenish; the feathers 
always with iridescent bars. Notes. _Tchak and a short 
unmusical call uttered with spread wings and tail. 
Range.—Eastern United States; breeds in lower Mississippi Valley 
and east of Alleghanies, from Georgia to Massachusetts; winters 
from Virginia southward through its breeding range. 
51fa. Florida Grackle (Q. g. agleus). Similar to 
511, but slightly smaller, head always violet purple; 
back always bottle-green, with iridescent bars. 
Range.—Florida, north on the Atlantic coast to Virginia, west on the 
Gulf Coast to Texas. 
51!b. Bronzed Grackle (Q. g. eneus). Head as in 
No. 511, back and belly bronze, the feathers wholly 
without iridescent bars. 
Range.—Eastern United States west to the Rockies; breeds from 
southern Texas to Great Slave Lake, east to Alleghanies, and, in 
New York, east and northeast to Connecticut, Massachusetts, and 
Labrador; winters chiefly in lower Mississippi valley; migrates in part 
east of the Alleghanies. i 
513. Boat-tailed Grackle CMe rane scare major’. L. 
3, 16; W. 7.5; T. 7. Ad. 3%. Head and neck glossy 
purple; back and belly glossy greenish blue. 4d. Q. 
Much smaller, T. 5.2; above blackish brown; below 
soiled rusty buff. Notes. Tchack, a variety of hoarse, 
rather forced whistles and a gurgling roll as of a Coot 
pattering over the water. 
Range.—Florida, north along the coast to Virginia; west along 
coast to Texas. 
513a. Great-tailed Grackle (M. m. macrourus). Simi- 
larto No. 513, butlarger, §', L. 16;T. 9. Foreback and 
breast, as well as head and neck, purple, only rump and 
lower belly greenish blue; 2 blacker both above and be- 
below than 9 of 513. Notes. Tchack, and a greater 
varriety of squeaky calls, and hoarse whistles, than in 
my experience, is uttered by No. 513. 
Range.—Eastern Texas and south into Mexico. 
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