Boat-tailed Grackle Male (immature)

Description:

This immature male boat-tailed grackle looks nothing like the mature male. It has feathers with a mottled coloration including light and darker brown, bluish accents at the shoulder and yellowish chest. It has a black dagger-like beak and dark eyes. It also has rather thick legs. In contrast, the mature male is black with iridescent blue accents.

Habitat:

Along an inland fresh water canal in western Boca Raton, FL

Notes:

Three of the birds came and were very noisy with each other both in the backyard and when they flew into a tree. I originally thought I was seeing a boat-tailed grackle female but this is larger and its coloring is rather different. I was surprised to learn that this is a male. It looks rather scruffy as it is molting into its adult coloration.