Prompt: This photo was taken from at Arthur Storey Park, Houston, 02/07/2025. Please give a comprehensive description, Taxonomy. Is it a migratory bird? Give information on its behavior, habitat, diet and its fun facts.
#ChatGPT gives the answer below:
這隻鳥很可能是 大尾擬八哥（Quiscalus mexicanus），這種鳥在德克薩斯州（包括休斯頓）非常常見。以下是其詳細描述和分類學信息：
描述：
- 體型： 中型至大型黑色鳥類，雄性體長約 38–46 公分（15–18 英吋）。
- 羽毛： 雄鳥全身黑色，帶有光澤，根據光線不同可能呈現 藍色、紫色或綠色 的金屬光澤。雌鳥則是 棕色，腹部顏色較淺。
- 尾巴： 長而呈V字形，飛行時常展開扇形。
- 眼睛： 明亮的黃色或白色。
- 喙： 尖細且微微彎曲。
分類學（Taxonomy）：
- 界（Kingdom）： 動物界（Animalia）
- 門（Phylum）： 脊索動物門（Chordata）
- 綱（Class）： 鳥綱（Aves）
- 目（Order）： 雀形目（Passeriformes）
- 科（Family）： 擬黃鸝科（Icteridae）
- 屬（Genus）： 擬八哥屬（Quiscalus）
- 種（Species）： 大尾擬八哥（Q. mexicanus）
這是候鳥嗎？
大尾擬八哥 主要不是候鳥。雖然北部種群在冬季可能會向南遷徙，但在 休斯頓及美國南部地區是全年留鳥。由於城市化和棲息地變化，它們的分布範圍在過去一個世紀內不斷向北擴展。
行為、棲息地與飲食習性
📌 行為（Behavior）
- 社交性強： 大尾擬八哥是非常 好動且吵雜的鳥類，經常成群活動，特別是在城市和郊區環境中。
- 鳴叫多變： 其叫聲種類豐富，包括 尖叫、嘶啞的金屬聲、哨音和嘎嘎聲，甚至能模仿其他鳥類或環境聲音。
- 求偶炫耀： 雄鳥在繁殖季（通常是春季和夏季）會 展開尾巴、豎起羽毛，並發出高亢鳴叫 來吸引雌鳥。
- 適應力強： 它們對人類活動影響的適應力極高，能夠在城市、公園、農田等不同環境中生存。
📌 棲息地（Habitat）
- 廣泛分布： 大尾擬八哥主要分布於 北美洲南部、中美洲以及南美洲北部，特別是在 美國德州、墨西哥及中美洲 最為常見。
- 城市與郊區： 這種鳥類經常出現在 公園、停車場、購物中心、農田、沼澤地和湖泊周圍，特別喜愛人類居住的區域。
- 樹木與建築： 它們通常在 高樹或人造結構（如燈柱、屋頂、橋樑） 上築巢，繁殖期時會形成小群體共同築巢。
📌 飲食習性（Diet）
- 雜食性（Omnivorous）： 大尾擬八哥是 機會主義捕食者，會食用 昆蟲、種子、水果、小型脊椎動物和人類食物殘渣。
- 常見食物包括：
- 昆蟲類： 蚱蜢、甲蟲、螞蟻、蜘蛛
- 種子與穀物： 玉米、小麥、雜草種子
- 水果與花蜜： 無花果、漿果、棕櫚果
- 垃圾與剩食： 牠們經常在 垃圾桶、公園、戶外餐廳 內搜尋食物，甚至會搶奪其他鳥類或人類遺落的食物。
- 覓食方式多變： 它們不僅會在地面上啄食，還會在水邊 翻動葉子、垃圾，甚至潛水短暫撈取水生生物。
💡 額外趣事（Fun Facts）
- 「城市霸主」： 由於適應力極強且數量龐大，它們在城市中幾乎沒有天敵，經常與人類爭奪食物。
- 「夜間聚會」： 在黃昏時，大量大尾擬八哥會聚集在城市的 樹木、電線或燈柱上，發出吵雜的叫聲，形成 巨大的夜間群落。
- 「擅長模仿」： 牠們能夠 模仿其他鳥類或環境噪音，例如車輛聲或警報聲。
這種鳥類在休斯頓和美國南部非常普遍，甚至被視為 城市生態的一部分！ 您還想知道哪些方面的資訊呢？ 😊
The bird in the image appears to be a Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus), a species commonly found in Texas, including Houston. Here is a comprehensive description and taxonomy:
Description:
- Size: Medium to large blackbird, with males reaching about 15–18 inches (38–46 cm) in length.
- Plumage: Males are glossy black with an iridescent sheen (often appearing blue, purple, or green depending on light). Females are brown with a paler underside.
- Tail: Long, V-shaped, often fanned out.
- Eyes: Bright yellow or white.
- Beak: Sharp and slightly curved.
Taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Passeriformes
- Family: Icteridae
- Genus: Quiscalus
- Species: Q. mexicanus
Is it a Migratory Bird?
The Great-tailed Grackle is mostly non-migratory in Texas. While some populations in the northern parts of their range may move south in winter, they are year-round residents in Houston and much of the southern U.S. They have expanded their range northward over the last century due to urbanization and habitat changes.
Behavior, Habitat, and Diet
📌 Behavior
- Highly social: The Great-tailed Grackle is a very active and noisy bird, often found in groups, especially in urban and suburban environments.
- Varied vocalizations: Their calls are diverse, including screeches, raspy metallic sounds, whistles, and cackles. They can even mimic other birds or environmental noises.
- Courtship displays: During the breeding season (typically spring and summer), males will fan out their tails, puff up their feathers, and emit loud calls to attract females.
- Highly adaptable: These birds are extremely adaptable to human activity and can thrive in cities, parks, farmlands, and various landscapes.
📌 Habitat
- Wide distribution: The Great-tailed Grackle is primarily found in southern North America, Central America, and northern South America, with high populations in Texas, Mexico, and Central America.
- Urban and suburban areas: They are commonly seen in parks, parking lots, shopping centers, farmlands, wetlands, and near lakes, preferring human-populated areas.
- Trees and man-made structures: They typically build nests in tall trees or artificial structures (such as lampposts, rooftops, and bridges), often forming small nesting colonies during the breeding season.
📌 Diet
- Omnivorous: The Great-tailed Grackle is an opportunistic feeder, consuming a wide variety of food, including insects, seeds, fruits, small vertebrates, and human food waste.
- Common food sources include:
- Insects: Grasshoppers, beetles, ants, spiders
- Seeds and grains: Corn, wheat, weed seeds
- Fruits and nectar: Figs, berries, palm fruits
- Garbage and leftovers: They frequently forage in trash bins, parks, and outdoor restaurants, sometimes even stealing food from other birds or humans.
- Diverse foraging methods: They feed both on the ground and in shallow water, often flipping leaves, rummaging through trash, and even briefly diving for aquatic prey.
💡 Fun Facts
- “Urban Boss”: Due to their adaptability and large numbers, they dominate cities and often compete with humans for food.
- “Nighttime Gatherings”: At dusk, large flocks of Great-tailed Grackles congregate in trees, on power lines, or streetlights, creating noisy nighttime roosts.
- “Mimicry Skills”: They can imitate other bird calls and environmental sounds, including car alarms or sirens.
These birds are extremely common in Houston and throughout the southern U.S., becoming an integral part of urban ecosystems! Would you like to know more about any specific aspect?