What is this Florida bird?

[Larryh86GT]

We just enjoyed a 4 day weekend in Orlando and there were a lot of these birds at the pool. What kind of bird is it? They are about the size of a robin but are brown/black.

Larry

 

[winemaker_3352]

Maybe a Snipe

 

[AlFulchino]

no expert here..maybe a young oriole on winter hiatus?

 

[MN-winer]

Looks to me like a juvenile Varied Thrush.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/PHOTO/LARGE/DRW_041602_00470Z_S.jpg

 

[Redtrk]

I emailed this over to a friend of mine who lives in Jacksonville and this is his reply.

"No idea Rick, looks like a wood thrush or maybe a chat".

So no firm answer yet but it might be a lead for you.

 

[GrandpasFootsteps]

We just enjoyed a 4 day weekend in Orlando and there were a lot of these birds at the pool. What kind of bird is it? They are about the size of a robin but are brown/black.

Larry

It is a common female grackle. Nuisance bird. Extremely common in the south from Texas to Florida. The males are jet black. Females are this dirty brown color with a black eye.

 

[Larryh86GT]

They were in bunches. The brown ones were in groups and the black grackles were in groups. It sounded like a jungle. The brown birds were not very afraid of humans. I've seen many black grackles in our area up here in the north but have never seen the brown bird before.

Thanks,
Larry

 

[Loren]

I aagree with Grampa, difinitly a female grackle. they are all over the place here. Loren