Bird of the week: Common Grackle
About: Medium sized black bird with a long tail. Males are black with iridescent feathers on head and wings, but these colors can only be seen under good light with breeding birds. Females also have some iridescent feathers, but much less. Similar to Red-Winged Blackbirds except lacking the red and yellow shoulder patches, larger and much longer tails than Red-Winged Blackbirds.
Where to find this bird: found on open areas, especially grassy lawns on campus and frequently goes through trash in search of food.
When to find this bird: March–October.
Fun fact: During the winter, Grackles form large flocks with other blackbirds (which they are related to) in flocks that can range up into the millions.