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If you see a blackbird with a very long tail, you may think it’s a small crow or even a starling.  However, it’s most likely a Boat-Tailed Grackle.  This type of blackbird has a very distinct tail, plus it’s a fairly large bird.  The male has very shiny dark black or dark purple feathers, while the female Boat-Tailed Grackle features brown feathers and is less shiny.  In fact, you may even not realize she’s a blackbird at all because of her lack of dark colored feathers.You’ll mostly find the Boat-Tailed Grackle visiting a bird feeder around the Atlantic Coast of the United States. 

You’ll hear them, too—the Boat-Tailed Grackle is one of the louder birds around, and they’re very noisy.  While they will visit the occasional bird feeder, you’re more likely to find these birds handing around on power lines or on telephone poles.  Still, you may get a regular Boat-Tailed Grackle at your bird feeder, especially since the birds don’t migrate.  Once you’ve got a Grackle or two who know where you leave the bird seed or that you have a clean birdbath, you’re likely to see them at your bird feeder and in your back yard daily.