As We Wander

It’s entirely too easy to overlook everyday things. There’s a life lesson in there somewhere, but you can puzzle that out for yourself: I’m talking about animals instead of philosophy (I think?) and today I’ve got a beautiful bird that many people consider a nuisance. They’re loud, showy, and strange with a piercing stare, and they’re chaotic smart.

I guess I just find those characteristics to be endearing.

The genus Quiscalus contains the grackles of North America, three of which are native to the United States. The Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major) has the most limited range, inhabiting the southeastern seaboard and inland Florida; the Great-tailed Grackle (Q. mexicanus) is found throughout the southwest; and the range of the type species, the Common Grackle (Q. quiscula), generally spans the country except for a few western states.

These iridescent avians- particularly the Great-tailed- are the largest of Icteridae, the blackbirds, though that moniker falls short once the sun brings out their colors. They’re not the most surprising members of that family, though- brightly-colored orioles and meadowlarks (sunlight not required) are closely related.

So here’s to these big gawky birds. I’m a fan. If you decide to chase them from your yard, go ahead and send them to mine.