ROSEATE SPOONBILL
(sp. Ajaia ajaja)
We might not have Flamingos, but we do
have a pink bird. The Roseate Spoonbill
can have a 52 inch wingspan. Considered a
‘Wading Bird’, they thrive well here on the
Gulf Coast and can live for up to 16 years.
LORE: The
bright pink coloration of its feathers
is derived from the
Crustaceans they
eat.
ROCKPORT GRACKLES
(GREAT-TAILED or BOAT-TAILED?)
(sp. Quiscalus mexicanus & Q. major)
A Male ‘Rockport Grackle’
I’ve heard people in our area call our ‘Rockport
Grackles (which is what they should be called), BoatTailed, but in the early 20th Century, the Boat-Tailed
& Great-Tailed Grackles were lumped together anyhow, and they weren’t distinguished from each other
until 1983. According to their geographical range, we
should have both birds in our area. But the Grackles
I’ve seen in Rockport are mostly Great-Tailed.
LORE: A Grackle is a true Blackbird, whereas
Crows & Ravens belongs to the Jay Bird Family.
LORE: Grackles are known to take a dry
piece of bread or pet food and stick it in water
to soften it up before eating it.
2 Female ‘Rockport Grackles’
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