Feathered Friends Contest: Beady Yellow Grackle Eye

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My entry to #featheredfriends contest hosted by @nelinoeva. Check 👉 Here for more information.

Theme

BIRD EYE

The last few years a couple grackles have been nesting in the cedar trees. These blackbirds, with the iridescent heads, will stay around for awhile each spring and summer.


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I’m not sure where this grackle family goes before the summer is over. It’s like they use the cedar tree for raising their babies and once they are grown up enough, they all take off to greener pastures. It is possible they fly off to join major communal roosts.

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The grackles have a beady little yellow eye that looks threatening. These birds were a bit aggressive when other birds came for feed. This one must be showing the youngsters how to intimidate other birds.


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Grackles get a back rap as they like corn plants and wheat and will gather in large flocks. On the plus side they are part of the system and help control insect populations that are harmful to plants. I noticed they would patrol the lawn like the robins in search of bugs and insects.


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Scientific classification of Common Grackle

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Icteridae
Genus: Quiscalus
source

One bird the grackles can’t intimidate is the mourning dove. I’ve seen the dove raise his wings at the grackles and they backed away.

Here is the dove giving ‘the look’ to the junco but they both ate in peace.


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Location: Prince Edward Island, Canada

Photos & Text @redheadpei unless otherwise sourced

hive-106444 is 10% beneficiary on this post


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hive-106444 smap birds birding grackles photography cch archon palnet
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35 comments
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Bang, I did it again... I just rehived your post!
Week 74 of my contest just started...you can now check the winners of the previous week!
!BEER
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Looking at the first picture, I wonder what they stare up there. 😀

Nice captures Jo. 😀

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(Edited)

It’s actually a mating behaviour, Neli. The male will do the ‘Heads Up’ if a female and another male is present. The male bird who tilts his head farthest back and hold it the longest is considered dominant and the other males respect that.
Source)

In the third photo the grackle with wings spread must be boasting he is the dominant one.

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How interesting, birds have so elaborate behaviour to attract females.

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They look nice with their iridescent heads, although I have to admit that the yellow eyes are a bit scary 😱
I didn't know that they don't like other birds in "their" feeding area, as well as it's new to me that they teach their kids how to intimidate other birds - somehow cool 😁

I have learned a lot from your post, Jo 😃
I wish you good luck in the contest and a wonderful weekend 🌞🤗

!BEER and !WINE and !PIZZA - perfect 😃
!invest_vote

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Happy Frigg’s Day, Hannes.🧚

The grackles are cool birds. I’m happy you found out something new from the post.😊

Thanks for all the goodies and good luck wishes, dear Hannes.🤗☀️

Have a wonderful end to Frigg’s Day and a great weekend.💛

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There's every day something new to learn when you are on the Hive 😀
You have a happy Frigg's day too, dear Jo, and also a great weekend 🤗🌞

!LUV
!PIZZA and !BEER - sounds like a nice dinner :)
!invest_vote

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Thanks! That’s so nice to say and makes me smile, Hannes.🤗

I hope you had a wonderful weekend and great week ahead, dear Hannes .☀️

Weather is nice today but thunderstorm and rain las evening. We don’t often get thunder and lightning storms.⚡

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Good morning Jo,

it's good to know you're smiling 😉

Our new week has started just like the old one has ended: it's raining 🌧️

Nevertheless, I thank you and wish that the nice weather will stay on PEI, dear Jo, have a wonderful week 🤗🌞

!LUV
!BEER and !PIZZA - nice 😃
!invest_vote

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Eyes , Eyes , Eyes everywhere all so cute 😊

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Thanks @kohsamui99. Haha that saying reminded me of the Rime of the Ancient Mariner- a sailor on a ship surround by salt water.
“Water, water everywhere, nor a drop to drink.”

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Grackles remind me of our Cape Starling with those dazzling eyes, also loud when arriving in town chasing many birds to make way for them to enjoy a tree.

Nice informative post and photography Jo.

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Thanks Joan @joanstewart. They sound like the same type of birds. The grackles make a noise like a squeaking hinge but they can imitate other bird’s songs.

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Amazing how many mimic other birds, noisy ones arrive and then try pretend they blend in LOL!

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Great post and photos Jo! You caught a whole family of them! I love their iridescent coloring and they certainly have an interesting eye! I've only seen one here in my yard and read that they can be aggressive so I am glad for that. I still love to see them otherwise though! 😊💞
Tip

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Thanks Dee.💖 I don’t mind the four of them hanging around. Funny they only stay long enough for the babies to become self-sufficient and then they all take off. They usually go to congregate in a large flock. I don’t know where the communal roast is as I haven’t seen a flock of them for years. Grackles are not welcomed by farmers for a large flock would take a big chunk out of a corn or wheat field. They are good for eating insects and harmful bugs.

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Most welcome Jo! I think the one I saw was just passing through. There were a couple that I saw in OC. I'm waiting on another theme for #smap since I missed the one I planned on using it for. They don't seen to like the bird seed I put out but that is also a whole another story. 😏💕

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