BLACKBIRDS 215 



PURPLE GRACKLE ; CROW BLACKBIRD : Quiscalus 

 quiscvla ridgwayi Oberholser. J 



State records. — The purple grackle is common in nearly all 

 parts of Alabama, but is much more abundant in winter than 

 in summer. It occurs over the greater part of the State as a 

 breeder, at least as far south as Autauga and Montgomery 

 Counties, and from there southward gradually merges into the 

 subspecies quiscula, which occupies the coast region. Breed- 

 ing specimens have been examined from Florence, Leighton, 

 Auburn, Greensboro, Attalla, and Autaugaville, and Ridgway 

 furnishes breeding records at Anniston and Coosada.** A 

 specimen taken at Carlton, February 29, 1912, should prob- 

 ably be considered a migrant. The birds breeding at Leigh- 

 ton and Florence and intermediate between ridgwayi and 

 aeneus but nearer the former. 



McCormack states that most of the grackles disappear from 

 Colbert County during July and hardly any are seen during 

 August, September, and the first half of October. He adds : 



Large flocks arrive in fall as soon as cool or disagreeable 

 weather sets in, or about the last week in October, and from 

 that time until the following spring, particularly in the coldest 

 weather, immense flocks may be met with. By the middle or 

 latter part of March, the greater number have left for the 

 North.* 



This species nests in scattered colonies ; the breeding season 

 begins in April, eggs having been found at Greensboro, April 

 25 (Avery) ; Autaugaville, April 28 (Golsan) ; and Leighton, 

 May 14 (McCormack). 



General habits. — In the breeding season these blackbirds are 

 not very conspicuous, being dispersed over the country in pairs 

 or small colonies and occupied with the care of their young. 

 By midsummer, however, when the young are strong of wing, 

 they begin to gather into flocks and roam about the country in 

 search of good feeding grounds, and in fall when cold weather 

 sets in, their numbers are greatly augmented by the arrival of 



IQniscalnB quucnls quisenU of the A. O. U. Check-liet ; for change of name see The 

 ••Kideway, R., Bull. 60, U. S. Nat. Mue., Part 2, p. 216, 1902. 

 Ank, vol. 36, p. 269, 1919 ; and vol. 37, p. 280, 1920. 



•Leiehton (Ala.) News, vol. 2, No. 19, Oct. 1. 1891. 



