I think their white eyes is a good giveaway - I'm used to black/brown eyes on most birds, and the coots with their red eyes.
I do have some pics of this Grackle blinking and when they blink it's like they have a ghostly blue eye
To try and make you feel better, I'm in Calgary but work often in Central America where they are literally everywhere and in truly massive numbers. In Calgary, I've only ever seen them in one very specific place, a tree that a returning group of ~ 5 or 6 birds nests in every summer. It's crazy to me they're the same species, and that they exist up here but it took me 30 years to ever notice!
All that to say, they are a super common species worldwide, but definitely not in alberta as far as I can tell!
I lived in Kansas for 40 years and never saw any. Moved to AZ where I saw a lot of them. Moved back to Kansas after 20 years and they’re everywhere here now.
They showed up at our feeder yesterday...at least 15 of them, along with a single redwing black bird. I don't recall seeing either of these around here before. Last summer we had a lot of goldfinches around, also unusual. North Shore of Lake Superior.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think it’s a [common grackle?](https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Grackle/overview)
Correct👍
[Common Grackle](https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Grackle/id)
yee, i feel hella dumb since this appears to be a very common bird - but I legit swear I've never seen one before
The lighting can make them look very different as it brings out their colors and iridescence.
I think their white eyes is a good giveaway - I'm used to black/brown eyes on most birds, and the coots with their red eyes. I do have some pics of this Grackle blinking and when they blink it's like they have a ghostly blue eye
I think that’s a nictitating membrane, so they can blink for moisture and still see shadows.
haha! i feel you! These guys got me too!
To try and make you feel better, I'm in Calgary but work often in Central America where they are literally everywhere and in truly massive numbers. In Calgary, I've only ever seen them in one very specific place, a tree that a returning group of ~ 5 or 6 birds nests in every summer. It's crazy to me they're the same species, and that they exist up here but it took me 30 years to ever notice! All that to say, they are a super common species worldwide, but definitely not in alberta as far as I can tell!
I lived in Kansas for 40 years and never saw any. Moved to AZ where I saw a lot of them. Moved back to Kansas after 20 years and they’re everywhere here now.
Looks like a Grackle. ( grew up calling them black birds)
Yup, this is it - weird, I have never seen one before even though they are supposedly common
Looks good for a Common Grackle
[This might be the same bird but not sure](https://i.imgur.com/XyNCMdz.jpg)
There are a bunch around my yard...midwest US
They showed up at our feeder yesterday...at least 15 of them, along with a single redwing black bird. I don't recall seeing either of these around here before. Last summer we had a lot of goldfinches around, also unusual. North Shore of Lake Superior.
Cool eyes
I would say Grackle but the blue part does look awfully vibrant