The great-tailed grackle or Mexican grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) is a medium-sized, highly social passerine bird native to North and South America. A member of the family Icteridae, it is one of 10 extant species of grackle and is closely related to the boat-tailed grackle and the extinct slender-billed grackle. In the southern and southwestern United States, the grackle is sometimes referred to simply as a "blackbird" or (erroneously) a "crow" due to its glossy black plumage; however, grackles form their own unique genus that is separate from other "blackbirds", such as the red-winged and Brewer's blackbirds, despite being in the same family (Icteridae). Superficially, Brewer's blackbird is one of the most visually similar species to grackles.

In some parts of Mexico, the grackle is sometimes referred to in Spanish as ("raven"; "crow"), although it is not a member of the crow genus (Corvus) nor of their family (Corvidae).

Taxonomy

The great-tailed grackle was formally described in 1788 by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition of Carl Linnaeus's Systema Naturae. He placed it with the crows in the genus Corvus and coined the binomial name Corvus mexicanus. The type locality has been restricted to the region of Veracruz in Mexico. Gmelin's account was based on De Hocitzanatl that had been described by the Spanish naturalist Francisco Hernández de Toledo in his work Rerum medicarum Novae Hispaniae thesaurus, seu, Plantarum animalium mineralium Mexicanorum historia. The work was published in 1651, long after Hernández's death in 1587. "Hocitzanatl" was the name for the bird in a local Mexican language. The bird was also mentioned in 1770 by the French author Antoine-Joseph Pernety in his work . The great-tailed grackle is now one of six species placed in the genus Quiscalus that was introduced by Louis Vieillot in 1816.

Eight subspecies are recognised: Males are iridescent black with a purple-blue sheen on the feathers of the head and upper body, while females are brown with darker wings and tail.

Vocalizations

Great-tailed grackles have an unusually large repertoire of vocalizations that are used year-round. The sounds range from "sweet, tinkling notes" to a "rusty gate hinge". Males use a wider variety of vocalization types, while females engage mostly in "chatter", however there is a report of a female performing the "territorial song".

Distribution and habitat

thumb|left|Breeding display by male in Costa Rica

Great-tailed grackles originated from the tropical lowlands of Central and South America, but historical evidence from Bernardino de Sahagún shows that the Aztecs, during the time of the emperor Ahuitzotl, introduced the great-tailed grackle from their homeland in the Mexican Gulf Coast to the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan in the highland Valley of Mexico, most likely to use their iridescent feathers for decoration. In more recent times, great-tailed grackles expanded their breeding range by over 5,500% by moving north into North America between 1880 and 2000, following urban and agricultural corridors. Their current range stretches from northwestern Venezuela and western Colombia and Ecuador in the south to Minnesota in the north, to Oregon, Idaho, and California in the west, to Florida in the east, with vagrants occurring as far north as southern Canada. Their habitat for foraging is on the ground in clear areas such as pastures, wetlands and mangroves, Resident and transient males sire a small number of offspring through extra-pair copulations with females on territories. Territorial males are heavier and have longer tails than non-territorial males, and both of these characteristics are associated with having more offspring. The problem is solved by dropping objects into the water to raise the level and bring the food within reach. They are also behaviorally flexible, changing their preferences quickly in response to changes in cognitive tasks. Eggs are bright blue to pale bluish gray in color, marked with swirls and splotches that range from dark brown to black.

Food and feeding

thumb|Eating a [[chestnut-collared swallow killed in a window strike]]

Great-tailed grackles are noted for their diverse foraging habits. They extract larvae and insects from grassy areas; eat lizards, nestlings, and eggs; forage in freshly plowed land; remove parasites from cattle, and eat fruits (e.g., bananas, berries) and grains (e.g., maize, corn on the cob by opening the husks). They turn over objects to search for food underneath, including crustaceans, insects, and worms; they hunt tadpoles and fish by wading into shallow water; and although they do not swim, they catch fish by flying close to the water's surface and diving a few inches into the water to retrieve a fish. and kill barn swallows while flying.

In culture

Its introduction to the Valley of Mexico by Aztec Emperor Ahuitzotl between 1486–1502 is the earliest documented case of human-mediated introduction of a bird species to a new range in the Western Hemisphere. The account was documented in the Florentine Codex, making the account itself amongst the earliest peer-reviewed research in New World ornithology.

In Mexico, where it is known as the chanate or zanate, there is a legend that it has seven songs. "In the creation, the Zanate having no voice stole its seven distinct songs from the wise and knowing sea turtle. You can now hear the Zanate's vocals as the Seven Passions (Love, Hate, Fear, Courage, Joy, Sadness, and Anger) of life." Mexican artisans have created icons in clay, sometimes as whistles that portray the sea turtle with the zanate perched on its back. and is the official bird of Cartagena, Colombia. The Cartagena artist Enrique Grau had an affinity for these birds and, because of this inspiration, many Colombian monuments and artistic works were created in honor of the bird's intelligence, adaptability, cheerfulness, sociability, collaborative tendencies, diligence, craftiness, and ability to take advantage of adversity.

In Austin, Texas, it is commonly found congregating near the city's numerous food trucks, and grocery store parking lots. The great-tailed grackle has become an icon in the city, and especially on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin, to the extent that local radio station KUT offers grackle-themed socks as a popular gift for its supporters.

References

Further reading

  • Johnson, K., and B. D. Peer. 2001. Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) in The Birds of North America No. 576 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.

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Theses

  • Carlson SJ. (1983). THE BIOENERGETICS OF ROOST SITE SELECTION FOR GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES (TEXAS). Texas A&M University, United States, Texas.
  • Hanson MT. (1976). MOVEMENT PATTERNS, FLOCK PARAMETERS, AND HABITAT SELECTION IN THE GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE. Texas A&M University, United States, Texas.
  • Kok OB. (1970). BEHAVIOUR OF THE GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE (QUISCALUS MEXICANUS). The University of Texas at Austin, United States, Texas.
  • Teather KL. (1988). Sexual size dimorphism in great-tailed grackles: The costs of sons and daughters. Carleton University (Canada), Canada.

Articles

  • Arnold KA & Folse LJJ. (1977). Movements of the Great-Tailed Grackle in Texas. Wilson Bulletin. vol 89, no 4. pp.&nbsp;602–608.
  • Avise JC & Zink RM. (1988). Molecular Genetic Divergence between Avian Sibling Species King and Clapper Rails Long-Billed and Short-Billed Dowitchers Boat-Tailed and Great-Tailed Grackles and Tufted and Black-Crested Titmice. Auk. vol 105, no 3. pp.&nbsp;516–528.
  • Bock CE & Bock JH. (2002). Numerical response of grassland birds to cattle ranching versus exurban development in southeastern Arizona. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting Abstracts. vol 87, no 79.
  • Brown BT & Trosset MW. (1989). Nesting-Habitat Relationships of Riparian Birds Along the Colorado River in Grand Canyon Arizona USA. Southwestern Naturalist. vol 34, no 2. pp.&nbsp;260–270.
  • Cabrera Pena J. (1998). Predation of newborn Lepidochelys olivacea (Reptilia: Cheloniidae) by Quiscalus mexicanus (Passeriformes: Icteridae). Revista de Biologia Tropical. vol 46, no 3. pp.&nbsp;845–846.
  • Casler CL & Este EE. (1996). Mangrove avifauna on Ana Maria Campos Peninsula, Straits of Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela. Boletin del Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas Universidad del Zulia. vol 30, no 1. pp.&nbsp;9–44.
  • Christensen AF. (2000). The fifteenth- and twentieth-century colonization of the Basin of Mexico by the Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus). Global Ecology & Biogeography. vol 9, no 5. pp.&nbsp;415–420.
  • Clapp RB. (1986). Great-Tailed Grackle Kills Barn Swallow in Flight. Wilson Bulletin. vol 98, no 4. pp.&nbsp;614–615.
  • Cook AG. (1984). Birds of the Desert Region of Uintah County Utah USA. Great Basin Naturalist. vol 44, no 4. pp.&nbsp;584–620.
  • Davis WR II & Arnold KA. (1972). Food Habits of the Great Tailed Grackle in Brazos County Texas. Condor. vol 74, no 4. pp.&nbsp;439–446.
  • Dinsmore JJ. (1998). Iowa's avifauna: Recent changes and prospects for the future. Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science. vol 105, no 3. pp.&nbsp;115–122.
  • Dinsmore JJ & Dinsmore SJ. (1993). Range expansion of the great-tailed grackle in the 1900s. Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science. vol 100, no 2. pp.&nbsp;54–59.
  • Elder DH. (1988). Great-Tailed Grackle New to Ontario Canada. Ontario Birds. vol 6, no 1. pp.&nbsp;28–31.
  • Faanes CA & Norling W. (1981). Nesting of the Great-Tailed Grackle Quiscalus-Mexicanus in Nebraska USA. American Birds. vol 35, no 2. pp.&nbsp;148–149.
  • Guillory HD. (1977). Spread of the Great-Tailed Grackle in Southwestern Louisiana. Wilson Bulletin. vol 89, no 3. pp.&nbsp;483–485.
  • Guillory HD, Deshotels JH & Guillory C. (1981). Great-Tailed Grackle Quiscalus-Mexicanus Reproduction in South Central Louisiana USA. Journal of Field Ornithology. vol 52, no 4. pp.&nbsp;325–331.
  • Guillory HD, Deshotels JH & Guillory C. (1981). GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE REPRODUCTION IN SOUTHCENTRAL LOUISIANA. Journal of Field Ornithology. vol 52, no 4. pp.&nbsp;325–331.
  • Haemig PD. (1978). Aztec Emperor Auitzotl and the Great-Tailed Grackle. Biotropica. vol 10, no 1. pp.&nbsp;11–17.
  • Hansen MT. (1976). A Great-Tailed Grackle Captures and Kills a House Sparrow. Southwestern Naturalist. vol 21, no 2. pp.&nbsp;240–241.
  • Holmes JA, Dobkin DS & Wilcox BA. (1985). 2ND NESTING RECORD AND NORTHWARD ADVANCE OF THE GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE (QUISCALUS-MEXICANUS) IN NEVADA. Great Basin Naturalist. vol 45, no 3. pp.&nbsp;483–484.
  • Holmes JA, Dobkin DS & Wilcox BA. (1985). Second Nesting Record and Northward Advance of the Great-Tailed Grackle Quiscalus-Mexicanus in Nevada USA. Great Basin Naturalist. vol 45, no 3. pp.&nbsp;483–484.
  • Howell SNG & Pyle P. (1993). New and noteworthy bird records from Baja California, Mexico, October 1991. Western Birds. vol 24, no 1. pp.&nbsp;57–62.
  • Jackson J. (1985). The Dunking Habit of Common Grackles Quiscalus-Quiscula Insight Learning or Innate Behavior?. American Birds. vol 39, no 3. pp.&nbsp;261–262.
  • Jennings MR. (1984). Predation of Sonoran Spotted Whiptails Cnemidophorus-Sonorae Teiidae by the Great-Tailed Grackle Quiscalus-Mexicanus Icteridae. Southwestern Naturalist. vol 29, no 4.
  • Johnson DB, Guthery FS & Koerth NE. (1989). Grackle Damage to Grapefruit in the Lower Rio Grande Valley Texas USA. Wildlife Society Bulletin. vol 17, no 1. pp.&nbsp;46–50.
  • Johnson K, DuVal E, Kielt M & Hughes C. (2000). Male mating strategies and the mating system of great-tailed grackles. Behavioral Ecology. vol 11, no 2. pp.&nbsp;132–141.
  • Johnson K, Kielt M, Duval E & Hughes C. (1997). The genetic mating system of great-tailed grackles. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America. vol 78, no 4 SUPPL.
  • Kok OB. (1971). Vocal Behavior of the Great-Tailed Grackle Quiscalus-Mexicanus-Prosopidicola. Condor. vol 73, no 3. pp.&nbsp;348–363.
  • Mahrdt CR & Barber RL. (1999). Sceloporus occidentalis longipes (Great Basin fence lizard). Herpetological Review. vol 30, no 1.
  • Mitchell CA, White DH, Kolbe EJ & Biever RC. (1984). Dicrotophos Poisoning of Great-Tailed Grackles Quiscalus-Mexicanus in Texas USA. Journal of Wildlife Diseases. vol 20, no 3. pp.&nbsp;256–257.
  • Mora MA & Anderson DW. (1995). Selenium, boron, and heavy metals in birds from the Mexicali Valley, Baja California, Mexico. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination & Toxicology. vol 54, no 2. pp.&nbsp;198–206.
  • Patten MA, Erickson RA & Unitt P. (2004). Population changes and biogeographic affinities of the birds of the Salton Sink, California/Baja California. Studies in Avian Biology. vol 27, pp.&nbsp;24–32.
  • Peer BD, Rothstein SI & Rivers JW. (2005). First record of Bronzed Cowbird parasitism on the Great-tailed Grackle. Wilson Bulletin. vol 117, no 2. pp.&nbsp;194–196.
  • Peer BD & Sealy SG. (2000). Conspecific brood parasitism and egg rejection in Great-tailed Grackles. Journal of Avian Biology. vol 31, no 3. pp.&nbsp;271–277.
  • Peer BD & Sealy SG. (2001). Mechanism of egg recognition in the great-tailed grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus). Bird Behavior. vol 14, no 2. pp.&nbsp;71–73.
  • Peer BD & Sealy SG. (2004). Fate of grackle (Quiscalus spp) defenses in the absence of brood parasitism: Implications for long-term parasite-host coevolution. Auk. vol 121, no 4. pp.&nbsp;1172–1186.
  • Pena JC. (1998). Quiscalus mexicanus (Passeriformes : Icteridae) predates on Lepidochelys olivacea (Reptilla : Cheloniidae) neonates. Revista De Biologia Tropical. vol 46, no 3. pp.&nbsp;845–846.
  • Rutledge JT & Chandler RS. (1979). Nest Site Competition between Red-Winged Blackbirds Agelaius-Phoeniceus and Great-Tailed Grackles Quiscalus-Mexicanus. Auk. vol 96, no 4.
  • Scheuering EJ & Ivey GL. (1995). First nesting record of the Great-tailed Grackle in Oregon. Wilson Bulletin. vol 107, no 3. pp.&nbsp;562–563.
  • Selander RK, Yang SY & Cantu G. (1969). Extension of Zone of Sympatry of Quiscalus-Mexicanus and Quiscalus-Major. Condor. vol 71, no 4. pp.&nbsp;435–436.
  • Shawkey MD, Hauber ME, Estep LK & Hill GE. (2006). Evolutionary transitions and mechanisms of matte and iridescent plumage coloration in grackles and allies (Icteridae). Journal of the Royal Society Interface. vol 3, no 11. pp.&nbsp;777–786.
  • Slagsvold T, Husby M & Sandvik J. (1992). GROWTH AND SEX-RATIO OF NESTLINGS IN 2 SPECIES OF CROWS - HOW IMPORTANT IS HATCHING ASYNCHRONY. Oecologia. vol 90, no 1. pp.&nbsp;43–49.
  • Smith JNM. (1977). Feeding Rates Search Paths and Surveillance for Predators in Great-Tailed Grackle Flocks. Canadian Journal of Zoology. vol 55, no 6. pp.&nbsp;891–898.
  • Stepney PHR. (1975). FIRST RECORDED BREEDING OF GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE IN COLORADO. Condor. vol 77, no 2. pp.&nbsp;208–210.
  • Teather KL. (1987). Intersexual Differences in Food Consumption by Hand-Reared Great-Tailed Grackle Quiscalus-Mexicanus Nestlings. Auk. vol 104, no 4. pp.&nbsp;635–639.
  • Teather KL. (1989). Sex and Egg Size in Great-Tailed Grackles. Condor. vol 91, no 1. pp.&nbsp;203–205.
  • Teather KL. (1990). The Influence of Sibling Gender on the Growth and Survival of Great-Tailed Grackle Nestlings. Canadian Journal of Zoology. vol 68, no 9. pp.&nbsp;1925–1930.
  • Teather KL & Weatherhead PJ. (1988). Sex-Specific Energy Requirements of Great-Tailed Grackle Quiscalus-Mexicanus Nestlings. Journal of Animal Ecology. vol 57, no 2. pp.&nbsp;659–668.
  • Teather KL & Weatherhead PJ. (1989). Sex-Specific Mortality in Nestling Great-Tailed Grackles. Ecology. vol 70, no 5. pp.&nbsp;1485–1493.
  • Weatherhead PJ & Teather KL. (1991). ARE SKEWED FLEDGLING SEX-RATIOS IN SEXUALLY DIMORPHIC BIRDS ADAPTIVE. Am Nat. vol 138, no 5. pp.&nbsp;1159–1172.
  • White CM, Frost HH, Shirley DL, Webb GM & Porter RD. (1983). Bird Distributional and Breeding Records for Southeastern Idaho Utah and Adjacent Regions USA. Great Basin Naturalist. vol 43, no 4. pp.&nbsp;717–727.

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  • Great-tailed grackle - Quiscalus mexicanus - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
  • Great-tailed grackle - Animal Diversity Web
  • Great-tailed grackle at Birds of the World (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
  • Great-tailed grackle movies - Tree of Life
  • Great-tailed Grackle - Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  • Texas Monthly
  • Very diverse Great-tailed grackle sounds from Texas