Identifying a Blackbird

@CarolDM (203396)
Nashville, Tennessee
May 3, 2019 12:29pm CST
Often times you will see a blackbird, a grackle and a starling in your backyard. They are all similar birds but each with unique markings. The grackle usually has a blue green fluorescent marking around the head. The starling is unique with its marking as well. The main difference is that the starling has a short tail and yellow bill, while the grackle has a black bill and a long tail. I was just asked by JJ if the blackbird baby I just posted about was actually a grackle. I don't think so. I tried taking photos of the adult blackbirds in the trees. They do not sit still long enough for a good photo. But I have seen these birds in the birdbath close-ip. They are solid black. So I am pretty convinced these are blackbirds and the nest is blackbird babies. I will continue trying to get a better photo just to be sure. This may not interest a lot of you, but I am amazed at what you can learn in your backyard about nature.
9 people like this
8 responses
@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
3 May 19
What I call a blackbird and what you call a blackbird are very different things (and different from a black bird, LOL). Our male blackbirds have black plumage with a yellow bill and a ring around the eye, while the females have brown plumage and the bill is not so bright yellow. The thing they are most noted for is their song which is probably the best and the most complex birdsong we have in this country. Your blackbirds are not always black!
The blackbirds are the most abundant bird family in North America. It is not uncommon to see flocks in the thousands when the different types join up in Spring and Fall migration.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
3 May 19
@owlwings Cool, thanks for the link.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
3 May 19
We have many blackbirds. The one in the photo here is the red winged blackbird which is one of my favorites.
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@amadeo (111937)
• United States
3 May 19
black bird or a crow?
1 person likes this
@amadeo (111937)
• United States
3 May 19
@CarolDM Yes I know.This is the only thing came to my mind.LOL
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
3 May 19
Blackbird. Crows are much bigger.
1 person likes this
@Hate2Iron (15724)
• Canada
3 May 19
That is one thing that I love about moving back... so any new birds to get to know... and a lot of them are crows... I think!
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
3 May 19
Yes the crows are bigger than the blackbirds.
@jaboUK (64346)
• United Kingdom
3 May 19
I can identify most common birds, but not all. The one in your photo looks like a blackbird to me.
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@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
3 May 19
Yes it is a blackbird. Thanks!
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@LindaOHio (222222)
• United States
3 May 19
It holds great deal of interest to me, especially if it's important to you!
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@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
3 May 19
Thank you, how kind of you to say.
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@kasmakarim (1932)
• Indonesia
6 May 19
It's seems like a crow
@JudyEv (381744)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 May 19
I always like reading about birds.
• Santiago, Chile
3 May 19
Well Carol I am clueless when it comes to identifying birds and their types. However I find interesting to read and learn more about them comig from you, a person who really loves birds and cats.