The Birds of Black

These photographs represent an assortment of “blackbirds, a catch-all category for birds that look similar, but are not even related to each other. 

CROWS, the largest in size of the local black birds, are easily recognized by their loud, harsh cawing sounds. Here on the coast, there are both Fish Crows (Corvus ossifragus) and American Crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos).

GRACKLES, somewhat smaller and more streamlined than crows, are glossy black birds with bright yellow eyes and long tails. Of the two local species, the Boat-tailed Grackle looks similar to the Common Grackle, except for its extra-long tail.   

Here is the Boat-tailed Grackle for comparison…

While the males are black, glossy, and iridescent, the females are dull, brownish and smaller in size in both species of grackle …

The EUROPEAN STARLING is glossy black in mating season, but is sometimes speckled with white dots , hence the name “starling.”

Here’s the juvenile starling with its own look — grayish-brown in color with a dark colored bill.

COWBIRDS have short, thick beaks, short tails, and dark eyes. There are two species locally…

The Shiny Cowbird looks quite similar, but is entirely black. Although uncommon, I encountered some inside Fort Macon State Park. 

TRUE BLACKBIRDS, such as the local Red-Winged Blackbird, have bills similar to cowbirds.

Juvenile Red-wing Blackbirds have their own distinct look…

Always gregarious, all of these varieties of black-colored birds hang out in small or huge flocks, chattering in whistles, clicks, shrieks and calls.

I do not know which to prefer,
The beauty of inflections,
Or the beauty of innuendos,
The blackbird whistling
Or just after.
   - Wallace Stevens, Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird

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Here are some related bird posts to visit:

• Steeple Sitters >>
• Let the Nesting Begin >>