Conspicuously Black 
made an unwelcome visit to the neighborhood. It receives the 
blame for every possible misfortune. 
When seen in the air, the crow is the only other bird for 
which the raven could be mistaken; but the raven does more 
sailing and less flapping, and he delights in describing circles as 
he easily soars high above the trees. On the ground, he is seen 
to be a far larger bird than the largest crow. The curious beard 
or fringe of feathers on his breast at once distinguishes him. 
These birds show the family instinct for living in flocks large 
and small, not of ravens only, but of any birds of their own gen- 
era. In the art of nest building they could instruct most of their 
relatives. High up in evergreen trees or on the top of cliffs, 
never very near the seashore, they make a compact, symmetrical 
nest of sticks, neatly lined with grasses and wool from the sheep 
pastures, adding soft, comfortable linings to the old nest from 
year to year for each new brood. When the young emerge 
from the eggs, which take many curious freaks of color and mark- 
ings, they are pied black and white, suggesting the young of the 
western white-necked raven, a similarity which, so far as plu- 
mage is concerned, they quickly outgrow. They early acquire the 
fortunate habit of eating whatever their parents set before them — 
grubs, worms, grain, field-mice; anything, in fact, for the raven 
is a conspicuously omnivorous bird. 
Purple Crackle 
(Quiscalus quiscula) Blackbird family 
Called also : CROW BLACKBIRD ; MAIZE THIEF ; KEEL- 
TAILED GRACKLE 
Length — 12 to 13 inches. About one-fourth as large again as the 
robin. 
Male — Iridescent black, in which metallic violet, blue, copper, 
and green tints predominate. The plumage of this grackle 
has iridescent bars. Iris of eye bright yellow and conspic- 
uous. Tail longer than wings. 
Female — Less brilliant black than male, and smaller. 
Range — Gulf of Mexico to 57th parallel north latitude. 
Migrations — Permanent resident in Southern States. Few are 
permanent throughout range. Migrates in immense flocks 
in March and September. 
44 
