Boat-Tailed Grackle Born With One Leg - A Hardy Survivor in A Tough World!

Video of Boat-Tailed Grackle

Male Boat Tailed Grackle Born With One Leg

The male one-legged Grackle from:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKByxi-eeuI

has been hanging around the feeder for a week and this video from a better angle shows that he is indeed a Boat-Tailed Grackle typically found near the Florida coast, this is the first one noted in our backyard. They are much larger than a common Grackle. The brown Grackle at the beginning of the video is a female Boat-tailed Grackle - almost all brown and much smaller than the male. Judging by his behavior, the one-legged male and her are not on particularly friendly terms. From the slow motion video of his left flank it is clear that there is no thigh or thigh bone attached in front of the tuft of white feathers where it normally would be and the flank is smooth indicating that this bird was probably born with one leg. Grackles are generally common and overlooked birds due to their habits of hanging around public places. This bird is quite the unique individual and a fascinating bird to watch. I wish him well!
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Big One-Legged Grackle - One Tough Bird!

Big One-Legged Grackle - One Tough Bird!

Not sure what kind of Grackle this is but its obviously had a hard life

and has a bit of attitude in this video!

Not sure what kind of Grackle this is, maybe boat-tailed, but its obviously had a hard life

and has a bit of attitude!

I have never seen a Grackle like this in the backyard before. Certainly not your Common Grackle - It wasn't until I edited the video that i noted it only had one leg - or at least one functional leg. Appeared to be a loner and scared off every bird that approached the feeder for over five minutes at peak morning rush hour. Not clearly a boat-tailed or long-tailed Grackle, but had one huge bill that is way out of proportion to a Common Grackles. May not be a native species. It is noteworthy for its unusual sterling silver-colored or mercury -colored legs, very striking. It's an attractive bird despite its attitude.
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