Common Grackle (also known as Bronzed Grackle or Purple Grackle)

This feather belongs to a Common Grackle, a large, lanky blackbird with a long tail and a piercing yellow eye. Although they appear black from a distance, their feathers are actually a kaleidoscope of iridescent purples, blues, and bronzes. They are social birds often seen in large, noisy flocks, known for their harsh 'rusty hinge' calls and confident, strutting gait on lawns.

The feather features a dark brownish-black soot base with a striking metallic green-to-bronze iridescent sheen on the outer vane. This is a structural color, meaning it changes based on the angle of light.

The distal half is pennaceous and tightly interlocked for insulation and protection, while the proximal base is plumulaceous (downy) for heat retention.

The rachis is thin, dark, and slightly curved. Barbs are densely packed in the pennaceous region, angled sharply upward toward the tip.

Glossy and silky on the iridescent distal portion, transitioning to a soft, matte, and fluffy texture at the base. The surface is smooth to reduce friction.

Breast, flank, or back. The size and rounded shape are typical for contour feathers that provide the bird's outer shell and iridescent appearance.

Small size, rounded tip, and distinct metallic green/bronze iridescence on a dark melanin base.

Open woodlands, marshes, agricultural fields, suburban lawns, and city parks. They are highly adaptable to human-altered landscapes.

Resident or migratory across North America, east of the Rocky Mountains, from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast.

Omnivorous foragers that act as both pest controllers (eating insects) and seed dispersers, though they can sometimes impact grain crops. They are a resilient species with stable populations.

European Starling (shorter, more pointed feathers with buff tips), Brewer's Blackbird (more uniform blue/purple sheen), and Brown-headed Cowbird (less iridescence).

Common Grackles are known for 'anting,' a behavior where they rub ants on their feathers. The formic acid secreted by the ants is thought to act as a natural pesticide against feather mites.

Historically ignored in formal millinery compared to more colorful birds, but today they are a quintessential symbol of the American suburban ecosystem. Their iridescent feathers are sometimes used in artisanal fly-tying.

Look for these feathers in late summer during the post-breeding molt, especially on lawns or near communal roosts in large deciduous trees.

Excellent condition; the barbs are mostly intact with minimal fraying, suggesting it was recently molted or shed. No visible fault bars or parasite damage.