Illustration by Christina Mattison Ebert

Illustrator Christina Mattison Ebert shares depictions and information on coastal birds

Quiscalus Mexicanus

There generally are two types of people who reside on the Texas Gulf Coast — those who hate grackles and those who love them. Whether you believe them to be a nuisance or blessing, grackles are a staple of the region and protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Personally, I fall into the pro-grackle camp, especially with regard to the great-tailed grackle. The males of this species sport exquisite iridescent black feathers and sizable fan-like tails that they can actually fold in half. Perhaps the most riveting feature of the great-tailed grackle is its infamous vocalizations, which I have heard likened to everything from a broken radio to a rusted gate.

FUN FACT: Female great-tailed grackles weigh in at about half the size of males and are more likely to survive when young because they require less food to thrive.