Common grackle – Quiscalus quiscula

Having been bitten by the birding bug earlier this year, I sought to bring birds to my camera. I purchased suet and placed it in my backyard and waited with camera in-hand. Much to my horror, my yard was inundated with  grackles, starlings and some crows.

My wife was not amused. Every time she walked by the windows that looked out on the backyard, she was sure to comment that my ugly birds were back. While they are not as striking as other birds, they do have some aesthetic appeal. They are shiny and and have intense, yellow eyes. I have learned that suet in the spring may not be the best choice for song birds. Live and learn!