Quote:
Originally Posted by Budder81
For some reason I love watching crows, they seem to think more.
Today on my break, I saw 2 birds about the size of a pidgeon but more crowlike, but was metallic dark blue. It's mate (i'm guessing) was tanish brown but they were flying togeter and landing together looking for food. What was it? It was interesting to watch.
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There are several birds that most would call a 'blackbird'.....when in reality, the species most likely doesn't even have the word 'black' in it's name. There are grackles, crows, anis, ravens......
The first questions I must ask.......where (geographical) did you see the bird?? Did it have yellow or red eyes?? I've only just really gotten into birding....but one thing I have heard over and over (and is very true) is that the more you scrutinize a bird you see, the easier it will be to identify it later on.....and it will build your skills in noticing field marks on the bird.
My first guess would be a European Starling. They are an introduced species but are very prevelent everywhere. The male is about the size of a small robin, black, with colored specks and somewhat iridescent. The female and juvinile is smaller, but all brown with some dark markings on the back and wings.
(male-left/female-right)
It could be a common grackle if it was iridenscent/holagraphic-looking. Awesome birds....its possible to determine 5+ colors on one bird that from from away, looks totally black.
(I took this photo so you may need to zoom in to get a good look....or just google it)
If it was all black, and had a brown/bronze head.....and the female was grayish with some hard-to-see lines on the closed wings, with a very faint brown head.......then it was a Brown-headed Cowbird.
