_Megaquiscalus major major_
The male is a long-tailed, glossy blue-black bird.
(L. 16.) The female is much smaller (L. 12),
blackish brown above, buff below.
_Range._ Florida north on the Atlantic coast to
Virginia; west to Texas.
This giant Grackle frequents lakes, lagoons and bays, where it feeds
along the shore or among aquatic plants. The male, a poseur among birds,
strikes strange attitudes with bill pointing skyward, and with apparent
effort forces out hoarse whistles. The female is quiet and unassuming.
They nest in colonies, building in bushes and laying in April 3-5 bluish
white eggs, strikingly blotched and scrawled with blackish.