PERCHING BIRDS 
511. Purple Grackle. Quiscalus quiscula 
quiscula. 
Range. — Eastern United States from the Gulf 
to Massachusetts; winters along the Gulf. 
This species, which is 
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. 
Dull greenish Lar S e P ineS a PP ear t0 be 
White 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 Purple Grackle 
nesting habits and eggs of the sub-species of Bl onzed Gl ' ackle 
this Grackle do not differ in any particular. Like those of this variety the eggs 
show an endless number of patterns of markings. 
511a. Florida Grackle. Quiscalus quiscula agloeus. 
Range. — South Atlantic and Gulf States. 
A smaller variety of the preceding; length about 11 
inches. Eggs indistinguishable. 
511b. Bronzed Grackle. Quiscalus quiscula 
ceneus. 
Range. — North America east of the Rockies, breeding 
from the Gulf to Hudson Bay and Labrador. Winters Grayish white 
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. 
Grayish white 
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