http://www.kenyabirds.org.uk/ruppeling.htm
http://www.softbills.com/images/photo_g/ruppells_starling.jpg

> Doug Schonewald wrote:
>
> I am sending this to tweeters at the suggestion of Dennis Paulson.
> This is the text of an email conversation that I sent to Dennis on
> Sunday.
>
> Dennis,
>
> I too observed this bird for quite some time ( 5 - 10 minutes) on
> Sunday, 10-27. What is not apparent in the photos is that this bird
> is indeed 1.5 time the size of all of the Brewer's. I had good views
> of this bird with several adult Brewer's and it is head and shoulders
> larger. Views were had with Brewer's in front and behind within inches
> of the bird. The bill is quite large in comparison to the Brewer's,
> but smallish I think toward the grackle family (rest assured I am no
> expert in these matters). The square tail is puzzling. Perhaps we are
> looking at an integrade. With the grackle hanging around with the
> Brewer's and this bird being amazingly large this might be
> possible. Granted, it is highly unlikely, but it would explain the
> size differences and at the same time explain the lack of a grackle
> tail. Just a hypothesis to be sure. Had I not seen this bird first
> hand I would not be so prone to theorizing. It definitely is not a
> Brewer's blackbird, it doesn't appear to be a grackle of any race,
> maybe this is the best answer without the 'bird in hand' so to speak.
>
> Doug Schonewald
> Moses Lake, WA
> dschone8 at bentonrea.com
>
>

--
Mike Patterson
Astoria, OR
celata at pacifier.com

A child who becomes acquainted with the birds about him
hears every sound and puzzles out its meaning with a cleverness
that amazes those with ears who hear not.

-Neltje Blanchan

http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters/bird/bird.html