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Rare bird sighted in Galt
GALT — A common grackle sighted here early this week has birdwatchers flocking to the area to try to get a glimpse of the bird.
The reason for all of the attention is the bird is not as common as its name would suggest.
In fact, west of the Rocky Mountains, the bird is spotted less than once a year, said David Yee, a local bird expert.
To an untrained eye, the bird would appear to be an average blackbird. But to Yee, who has been birdwatching for nearly 40 years, the bird was easily identified.
Yee said the grackle is similar to a blackbird. But unlike the blackbird, which has a purplish blue iridescence on it's head and body, the grackle's purplish-blue iridescence stops at it's neck. Its body has a bronze iridescent coloring, which is seen best in the sunlight. Other differences are its size, which is slightly larger, and its tail, which is wedged.
The bird was first sighted at Yee's horse ranch in Galt on Tuesday afternoon, and has returned around 3 p.m. each day since.
Yee, who is a trained biologist, said because the bird has returned for four days, it is likely wintering here, meaning it could remain in the area until March. But there are no guarantees that will happen, Yee said.
First published: Friday, January 19, 2007

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