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

Reader Feedback

joe wrote on Jan 26, 2007 8:36 AM:

" A very rare male Smew was spooted in a pond near Sonora. They have been seen in the Aleutians, but a primarily in Scandinavia and Russia. People from all over the country have been flocking around in the Mother Lode to catch a glimpse. here's a link:http://www.mymotherlode.com/News/article/kvml/1169731519 "

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T & C wrote on Jan 22, 2007 7:12 AM:

" You "good ole' boyz" are so easy to rattle! A guilty conscience always has a retort to anything I say. You're a dead giveaway. I love birds, especially birds of prey. I've seen and observed the hawks in New York City and Central Park, but I've never heard of a grackle before and learned something new. And you neoKKKcons love to hand it out but you can't take it, as do you "good ole' boyz" who probably still live at home with mommy and daddy when you're 40 years old. It's the Lodi way. "

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Good ole Boy wrote on Jan 20, 2007 9:37 PM:

" T&C, its time for you to move "

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Albert Kohl wrote on Jan 20, 2007 4:26 PM:

" Geez. How did we go from Grackles to Neoconservatives? I am also originally from Phoenix originally and I love birding- and I am not a neo-con. Please don't show up here and insult people for sport. I've hundreds of Grackles too, but out here N. California they are news. No need to point out the obvious. "

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Only T&C wrote on Jan 20, 2007 12:04 PM:

" Can take a harmless story and turn it into one of his ugly and twisted blogs. "

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Brian wrote on Jan 20, 2007 9:48 AM:

" T&C, The KKK insertion was unnecessary. I like grackles. Let's set aside politics and enjoy God's gifts to us. "

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T & C wrote on Jan 20, 2007 7:41 AM:

" Brian, grackles are like you neoKKKcons, flighty. "

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Brian wrote on Jan 19, 2007 6:58 PM:

" Grackles are commonplace here in Phoenix. I see them daily at work and at home. They are really characters. I love their personality. "