Quiscalus quiscula
Common Grackle
The Common Grackle is a striking bird with glossy black plumage that shimmers with iridescent purple, blue, and green hues in bright light. Males are larger and more colorful, with a long, keel-shaped tail and bright yellow eyes contrasting sharply with their dark feathers.
Females are slightly smaller and less iridescent, with a brown body and shorter tail. Juveniles resemble females but have dark eyes that gradually lighten to yellow as they mature.
Length
28cm to 34cm
Wingspan
36cm to 43cm
Weight
74g to 142g
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Common Grackles are widely distributed across North America, from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. They thrive in diverse habitats, including open woodlands, marshes, suburban areas, and agricultural lands. These adaptable birds are particularly common in human-modified landscapes.
They are found throughout the eastern and central United States and southern Canada during the breeding season. In winter, northern populations migrate south, with large concentrations in the southeastern United States, making them a year-round presence in many areas.
Sea level to 1,500 meters
Temperate, Subtropical
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Common Grackles are opportunistic omnivores with a varied diet. They primarily feed on insects, seeds, and grains but also consume small fish, frogs, and even other birds' eggs or nestlings.
They've adapted to scavenge human food scraps in urban areas, showcasing their dietary flexibility.
Common Grackles are highly social birds, often seen foraging in large flocks on the ground. They have a distinctive walking strut and frequently engage in communal roosting, gathering in massive numbers during non-breeding seasons.
These birds are known for their intelligence and adaptability, often seen using tools to manipulate food items.
Common Grackles have a diverse vocal repertoire. Their most recognizable call is a harsh, creaky 'readle-eak' or 'chlack.' Males produce a variety of whistles, croaks, and guttural sounds during courtship.
In flocks, they create a cacophony of chatters and squeaks, often described as sounding like a rusty gate opening.
Common Grackles begin their breeding season in early spring, with males performing elaborate displays to attract mates. They often nest in loose colonies, sometimes alongside other blackbird species.
Females construct bulky nests of grass, twigs, and mud, typically placed in dense foliage of trees or shrubs. The nest cup is lined with fine grasses. A clutch usually consists of 4-7 pale blue to pearl gray eggs marked with brown blotches.
Incubation lasts about 12-14 days, primarily done by the female. Both parents feed the nestlings, which fledge after about 16-20 days. Grackles often raise two broods per season in warmer regions.
The Common Grackle typically lives for 5 to 17 years, with a maximum recorded lifespan of 23.1 years.
Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.
Listed as Near Threatened, Common Grackle populations have declined by over 50% since the 1970s due to habitat loss and agricultural practices.
Conservation efforts focus on preserving diverse habitats and promoting bird-friendly farming methods to support their recovery.
Crow Blackbird
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website: BirdLife International. 2018. Quiscalus quiscula. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22724320A131484290.
View sourcereport, 2007: Breeding Bird Survey and/or Christmas Bird Count: Butcher and Niven
website, 2022: Partners in Flight
View sourcewebsite: Longevity Records Of North American Birds. Version 2023.1
View source