Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)

Order: Passeriformes | Family: Icteridae | IUCN Status: Least Concern

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Age: Adult | Sex: Male | Loc. Guayas, Ecuador

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Age: Adult | Sex: Male | Loc. Northwest, Peru

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Age: Adult | Sex: Male | Loc. Western Colombia

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Age: Juvenile | Sex: Male | Loc. Northwest Peru

Identification & Behavior: ~44 cm (17 in) (male), 33 cm (13 in) (female). The male Great-tailed Grackle is glossy blue-black with a long V-shaped tail. The female is dusky brown above and rich brown below. In both sexes, the bill is thick, longish, and gently decurved. The iris is pale. The male is similar to a Giant Cowbird but is distinguished by a pale iris in both sexes, a V-shaped tail, and by being exclusively restricted to mangrove habitats.

Status: The Great-tailed Grackle is uncommon in mangrove forest habitats in extreme northwest Peru in Tumbes. It also occurs in Co and Ec.

Name in Spanish: Clarinero de Cola Grande.

Sub-species: Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus peruvianus), Swainson, 1838.

Meaning of Name: Quiscalus: Specific name Gracula quiscula. mexicanus: Coming from the country of Mexico.

See more of the Family Icteridae   peru aves

Distribution Map
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References:

    • Species range based on: Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, and L. Rico. 2006. Distribution maps of the birds of Peru, version 1.0. Environment, Culture & Conservation (ECCo). The Field Museum.  http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/uw_test/birdsofperu on 03/01/2016.