ever see a Bronze Grackle?

The Blue Jays were back at it this morning, diving into a dense tangle next to the vines they were attacking yesterday. Once again, I couldn't find the object of their anger and, when I got too close, the jays all took off. If there's a Screech Owl in there somewhere, it's doing a very good job of staying hidden.

Most of the big flock of American Goldfinches seen in the past few days appears to have moved on. However both nuthatches, Red-breasted AND White-breasted, are here -- the Red-breasted in the pines and oaks along the edge of the marsh and the White-breasted further back from the shore moving through a semi-open area of isolated trees. Still quite a few Common Yellowthroats; these birds, immatures or females, are very curious; they respond immediately to pishing and come right out of the underbrush.

For the past couple of days, I've seen a Bronze Grackle sunning itself at the top of an evergreen. What is a 'Bronze Grackle'? Well you may ask. 'Bronze' or 'Bronzed' Grackle is the northern subspecies of the Common Grackle and it differs from its more southerly relative, the 'Purple' Grackle, in having a bronzy sheen on its back -- very noticeable on a bird sitting in full sunlight. For a brief time a number of years ago, the two forms were split into two species and, although they have been relumped, it is very easy to see the difference if the light it good. The Bronze Grackle used to be the Eastern Long Island breeding form but it was replaced by the Purple Grackle a while back -- another example of the advance of the southern fauna. But we still see the northern version of this common bird in migration and winter when it descends from its northern strongholds. Even dedicated birdwatchers don't spend a lot of time studying grackles but the difference between these two forms is worth noting!

Eric Salzman