376 
PASSERIFORMES 
oil. Grow Blackbird, bronzed grackle. le grand mainate, Quiscalus quiscula. 
L, 12. Plate LXXIV B. The largest of the blackbirds. 
Distinctions. Large size, complete irides- 
cent blackness, and straw-coloured eyes. 
Field Marks. The all-black body, straw- 
yellow eyes, and size are good field marks. 
When Hying the long tail of the male is 
“boated/' that is, spread and turned up at 
the sides so that a cross-section through it 
would be U-shaped. This is a most character- 
istic feature and easily seen in outline against 
the sky in spring, but is less evident or absent 
in autumn. 
Nesting. Usually in communities in coni- 
ferous trees; . nest, a large, bulky mass of 
grass and mud. Some in hollow trees. 
Distribution. Temperate North America, east of the Rockies. In Canada common 
west to southern Manitoba, growing scarcer and local towards the mountains in the 
southern parts of the Prairie Provinces. 
SUBSPECIES. The Canadian representative of this species is the Bronzed Grackle 
(le .Grand Mainate bronz6) Quiscalus quiscula aeneus. Many old lists record the Purple 
Grackle (le Grand Mainate pourpre) Quiscalus quiscula quiscula in the eastern provinces, 
but evidently under misapprehension as it is a more southern race and there is no evidence 
of occurrence in Canada. 
The Crow Blackbird is a gregarious bird and likes to nest in company 
with its own kind. Evergreens are its favourite nesting trees and it often 
takes possession of ornamental rows, edging gardens. Its metallic colours 
and yellow eyes make it a brilliant and striking bird. It walks with comical 
pomposity over the lawn, or uncouthly gesticulates while it voices unusually 
discordant noises. As an early morning songster in the garden it is often a 
decided nuisance. 
Economic Status. Through the months the bird is in Canada, insects 
constitute 29-7 per cent of its food and vegetable matter 70-3 per cent. 
The insects include useful predaceous species, but not in large numbers. 
The vegetable matter contains about 48 per cent of grain and domestic 
fruit, the remainder being wild fruit, mast, and weed seeds. Much of the 
grain is waste, and the total cultivated fruit is only 2-9 per cent. On the 
whole the work of the Bronzed Grackle is beneficial, but its numbers should 
not be allowed to increase greatly. It is an inveterate nest robber, and 
a poor bird to have about the garden if other more attractive species are 
desired . 
495. Cowbird. cow blackbird, buffalo-bird. le vacher. Molothrus ater. 
L, 7-92. Plate LXXV A. The smallest of our blackbirds. Male: solid black with seal- 
brown head and neck. 
Distinctions. A small blackbird, with short, sparrow-like bill (Figure 464). Male: 
jet black with metallic reflections and a seal-brown head. Female: uniform, ashy brown, 
lighter on throat. Juveniles are similar to the female, but more light-buffy with many 
soft, broken, dark stripes below, and all feathers edged with buffv ochre. 
Field Marks. A small blackbird, with dark eyes and short bill; no decided markings 
anywhere. Notes, a harsh rattle and a grating squeak. 
Nesting. Eggs laid in nests of other, usually smaller, birds. Entirely parasitic. 
Distribution. North America, south to Mexico. In Canada, across the continent; 
in the west, southern British Columbia and from the Mackenzie southward. 
SUBSPECIES. The subspecies recognized by the Check-list as inhabiting eastern 
Canada is the type form the Eastern Cowbird (le Vacher de l’Est) Molothrus ater ater. A 
western subspecies, the Nevada Cowbird (le Vacher du Nevada) Molothrus ater artemisiae r 
Figure 463 
Bronzed Grackle; scale, about f. 
Bill left white to show shape. 
