Slender-billed grackle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Slender-billed grackle |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Quiscalus
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| Species: |
palustris
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| The range of the slender-billed grackle, in Mexico | |
The slender-billed grackle (Quiscalus palustris) was a type of grackle, a bird in the Icteridae family, also known as New World blackbirds. This bird is now extinct, meaning it no longer exists. It was closely related to the great-tailed grackle and weighed about 2.5 to 5 ounces (70 to 140 grams).
This unique bird lived only in central Mexico, especially in the Valley of Mexico and the Toluca Valley. Early reports from the 1500s by a Franciscan friar named Bernardino de Sahagún suggest it lived near farms and towns. Later observations hinted that it preferred marshy areas. Sadly, the slender-billed grackle disappeared around the early 1900s.
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Where Did the Slender-Billed Grackle Live?
The slender-billed grackle mostly lived in the marshes of the Valley of Mexico and the Valley of Toluca. It was first known from the Rio Lerma area in Mexico. The last time anyone saw this bird was in 1910.
Records show that these grackles lived in three main places:
- Wetlands (like marshes)
- Farm fields
- Human settlements (towns)
They especially liked marshes and the edges of lakes. They often used plants growing in the water to build their nests.
How Did Slender-Billed Grackles Nest?
Slender-billed grackles usually built their nests in marshes and among water plants. As more people moved into Mexico, these birds learned to adapt. They started nesting in towns and farm fields too. They often laid their eggs in tall reeds.
What Did Slender-Billed Grackles Eat?
The slender-billed grackle's diet included both animals and plants. They mainly ate worms, flies, and corn. These birds also liked to gather in groups, forming flocks. Male grackles would make loud noises and displays to show off their breeding territory.
How Did Humans Interact with These Birds?
When Europeans first arrived in central Mexico, they noticed that the Aztecs hunted the slender-billed grackle. The exact reasons are not fully clear. Some people think the Aztecs saw them as pests that ate their crops. Others believe they used the birds' feathers for special headdresses. It's interesting that they chose the black tail feathers instead of the brighter green ones.
During a special Aztec month called Izcalli, people would offer different animals to their gods. The slender-billed grackle was sometimes chosen for these offerings to the fire god. Historians aren't sure why this bird was picked. Many believe it was because they were common and sometimes seen as a nuisance.
Why Did the Slender-Billed Grackle Become Extinct?
The slender-billed grackle is thought to have disappeared around the early 1900s. It vanished from the Valley of Mexico, its main home. The only known places where these birds lived were the marshes and wetlands of Mexico.
Some reports say grackles nested in cities. However, experts believe this happened because they lost their natural marsh homes. These marshes were often turned into farmland. Slender-billed grackles were also seen nesting in farm fields near towns. But much of this land was once marshland too.
Local people also hunted the slender-billed grackles a lot. They collected the birds from areas near towns, often the day before special events. This hunting, combined with the loss of their marsh homes, likely led to their extinction.
Images for kids
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A slender-billed grackle
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Map showing where the slender-billed grackle lived in Mexico
