[MDOsprey] ID help requested

Daniel Mullarkey (DANIELM@MAILBOX.ECON.AG.GOV)
Tue, 07 Sep 1999 16:03:35 -0400


While at a very windy Chincoteague/Assateague on Saturday, on the
short Tom's Cove Nature Trail, which borders the tidal marsh behind
the beach, one bird confused me more than the others.  In retrospect,
it seems that it must have been a boat-tailed grackle, and that the
lighting was playing tricks on me, but here goes:  12 inches, give or
take, glossy dark purple back and head (although it appeared to have a
black collar across the nape of the neck), but here's the confusing
part - the whole breast/frontside appeared to be a warm tawny brown
(both my wife Carole and I clearly saw it as brown).  It was very
distinctly different from the backside coloration.  Any thoughts? 
Could this be a juvenile (I have no pictures of a juvenile to go on),
just poor lighting, or something the storm blew in that I'm unfamiliar
with?

Thanks for any help,
Dan Mullarkey
danielm@econ.ag.gov