Monday, April 13, 2015

AFTER A NIGHT OF THUNDER AND LIGHTNING IN DEEP SOUTH TEXAS, THE SHRILL-CALLING BLACK URRACAS MUST BE FLYING

(Ed.'s Note: After an unexpected rain and thunder storm Sunday night and early Monday morning, the landscape was different shades of green and the wildlife was out in force. This urraca (magpie? Nope, a Great-tailed grackle)) alighted on the driver's side view mirror and let out his joyous crackles establishing his territory. Although one can't tell from this picture, his black color was almost a steelish blue. Besides his familiar call, local residents are also used to hear turtle doves, mocking birds, white(wing?)tail doves and sometimes chachalacas if you're still lucky to live near wooded areas along resacas.)

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

That is not a rearview mirror. It is a driver's side mirror.

Anonymous said...

Is that Minerva Pena?

Anonymous said...

The bird is a male Great-tailed Grackle. Since Turtle Doves are native to Europe and since there is not an introduced population in Brownsville (though you might run across the occasional European Collared Dove)you are probably not hearing Turtle Doves. You are probably hearing Inca Doves or Mourning Doves or White-winged Doves or maybe even Common Ground Doves or White-tipped Doves, all of which are easily found in the area. I don't know what a White-tailed Dove is.

Anonymous said...

" I don't know what a White-tailed Dove is."

Dear Mr. Smart Ass Ornithologist,

Every school kid knows that the White-tailed Dove is the off-spring of a White-tailed Deer and Pigeon.

Anonymous said...

No, it is not Minerva Pena, it is not fat enough. It is Edgar Allen Poe.

Anonymous said...

Last night's storms wasn't unexpected. It was forecasted by the local nws.

Anonymous said...

(Last night's storms wasn't unexpected. It was forecasted by the local nws.)

Thing is, they're wrong 99.9% of the time. So that when they say a storm is coming, most automatically assume, it's gonna be a beautiful evening. Rain free!!!
Dags.

rita