Urban Bird: Male Great-tailed Grackle

While I was walking around my local pond three days ago I enjoyed having a male Great-tailed Grackle in my viewfinder for a bit. He was strolling along nearby. I couldn’t resist photographing him.

Male Great-tailed Grackle going for a stroll – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

There were other Great-tailed Grackles in the area but most of them were in trees or off in the distance. This male grackle was where I could take photos of him as he strutted his stuff on the ground.

When I first moved to Utah in 2009 I didn’t see many Great-tailed Grackles at all. Their numbers have increased in the years that I have been here and now I see them in more locations than I did before.

Great-tailed Grackles look very much like the Boat-tailed Grackles that I used to see and photograph in Florida. Great-tailed Grackles are the larger of the two species. Both species have what some people might call annoying songs and calls. Me? I like them. A lot.

This male Great-tailed Grackle didn’t call even once while I had him in my viewfinder. I wish that he had.

As the days grow warmer here I plan on seeing, photographing, and hearing these grackles more often. The females already seem busy with nest building even though some mornings are still frosty.

I had fun photographing this single male Great-tailed Grackle as he walked around the perimeter of the pond. He didn’t seem like he was in a hurry which helped me get the photos I wanted of him. I took quite a few images of him in the grass that I like and I hope to share some of those at a later date.

For today, however, I thought the rock wall of a pavilion provided a suitable backdrop, emphasizing that this bird is one of the many urban species that I enjoy photographing.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Great-tailed Grackle photos plus facts and information about this species.