Coastal Carolina

Quiscalus major HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 16 inches * Very long tail * Eyes pale in birds from Atlantic coast, browner in Florida and Gulf Coast populations * Long bill * Frequently gathers in flocks * Most often found in salt marshes (more widespread in Florida) Male: * Entirely black plumage with purple iridescence Female: * Buffy supercilium and breast * Remainder of plumage dark brown Similar species: The male Boat-tailed Grackle is similar to the Common Grackle but is larger with a much longer tail. Great-tailed and Boat-tailed Grackles are very similar but fortunately have mostly different ranges. Great-tailed Grackles have paler eyes and different calls.

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Dolichonyx oryzivorus HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 6 inches * Short, conical bill * Frequents open habitats * Often found in large flocks in migration Adult male alternate: * Black head, underparts, back, wings and tail * Yellow nape * White scapulars and rump * Plumage held in Spring and Summer Female and basic: * Buff and black head stripes * Buff underparts with black streaking on flanks * Buff upperparts with black streaks on back * Dark wings and tail with pale edging * Juvenile similar to basic Similar species: The male Bobolink is similar to the male Lark Bunting but has a yellow nape, white rump, and lacks a white wing patch. The female Bobolink is similar to the Grasshopper Sparrow but is larger and has streaked flanks. Female Red-winged Blackbird has a streaked breast.

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Molothrus ater HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 6.5 inches * Short, conical bill * Dark eyes * Frequents open habitats * When feeding on ground often cocks its tail * Often found in large flocks in migration and winter Adult male: * Brown head * Black body, wings and tail Adult female: * Grayish-brown plumage-darker on upperparts * Underparts faintly streaked * Throat pale * Juvenile browner and streakier than adult female with pale edging on wings Similar species: The Brown-headed Cowbird is smaller and shorter-tailed than blackbirds and grackles and has a more conical bill. Bronzed Cowbird is similar to female Brown-headed Cowbird but has red eyes and is slightly larger with a longer bill.

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HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 6.5 inches * Short, conical bill * Dark eyes * Frequents open habitats * When feeding on ground often cocks its tail * Often found in large flocks in migration and winter Adult male: * Brown head * Black body, wings and tail Adult female: * Grayish-brown plumage-darker on upperparts * Underparts faintly streaked * Throat pale * Juvenile browner and streakier than adult female with pale edging on wings Similar species: The Brown-headed Cowbird is smaller and shorter-tailed than blackbirds and grackles and has a more conical bill. Bronzed Cowbird is similar to female Brown-headed Cowbird but has red eyes and is slightly larger with a longer bill.

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Sturnella magna HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 8.5 inches * Sharply-pointed bill * Buff and black head stripes * Yellow underparts with black "v" on breast * White flanks with black streaks * Brown upperparts with black streaks * Brown tail with white outer tail feathers * Juvenile and winter plumages somewhat duller * Frequents open habitats Similar species: The Eastern Meadowlark is very similar to the Western Meadowlark. Where their ranges overlap, they are best separated by voice. Western Meadowlark has yellow throat extending slightly farther into face than Eastern. Male Dickcissel is much smaller with a conical bill and lacks white in the tail.

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Icterus spurius HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 6 inches * Sharply-pointed bill Male: * Black head, back, breast, wings and tail * Brown underparts, shoulder, and rump * Immature male similar to female but has black throat Female: * Greenish-gray upperparts * Yellowish underparts * Two wing bars Similar species: Male Orchard Oriole is quite distictive. Female Baltimore and Bullock's Orioles have grayer bellies than female Orchard Orioles. Female Hooded Oriole very similar but has a decurved bill.

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Agelaius phoeniceus HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 7.25 inches * Sharply-pointed bill * Frequents marshy habitats in summer, open habitats at other times of year * Often flocks with other species of blackbirds Adult male: * Bright red patch on wings bordered by yellow (border missing in some races) * Black plumage * Immature male similar to adult male but has pale supercilium and brown edges to black feathers Adult female: * Pale supercilium * Heavily streaked underparts * Upperparts brown and white * Sometimes has yellow tinge to face and throat * Females very dark in some races * Juveniles similar to adult females Similar species: The male Red-winged Blackbird can be told from the male Tricolored Blackbird by its yellowish, not white, border to the red shoulder patch. Females are quite similar but Tricoloreds typically have darker bellies. Tricolored Blackbirds are only found in Oregon and California. Other species of blackbirds lack the red shoulder patch of the male and the streaked underparts of the female.

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Agelaius phoeniceus HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 7.25 inches * Sharply-pointed bill * Frequents marshy habitats in summer, open habitats at other times of year * Often flocks with other species of blackbirds Adult male: * Bright red patch on wings bordered by yellow (border missing in some races) * Black plumage * Immature male similar to adult male but has pale supercilium and brown edges to black feathers Adult female: * Pale supercilium * Heavily streaked underparts * Upperparts brown and white * Sometimes has yellow tinge to face and throat * Females very dark in some races * Juveniles similar to adult females Similar species: The male Red-winged Blackbird can be told from the male Tricolored Blackbird by its yellowish, not white, border to the red shoulder patch. Females are quite similar but Tricoloreds typically have darker bellies. Tricolored Blackbirds are only found in Oregon and California. Other species of blackbirds lack the red shoulder patch of the male and the streaked underparts of the female.

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Euphagus carolinus HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 8 inches * Sharply-pointed bill * Pale eye * Often found in wet wooded areas Male: * Entirely black plumage in Spring and Summer * Variable amount of brown feather edges in Fall and Winter often with pale supercilium and malar streak Female: * Breeding plumage similar to male but grayer * Winter plumage similar to male's Similar species: Male Rusty Blackbird similar to male Brewer's Blackbird but lacks purple iridescence. Female Brewer's Blackbird has a dark eye. Grackles are larger with much longer tails. Cowbirds are smaller with more conical bills.

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