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Common Grackle

Quiscalus quisculaOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Blackbirds and Orioles (Icteridae)

Breeding Location:

Seashore, rocky or sandy, Meadows, grassy, Urban



Breeding Type:

Monogamous, Colonial



Breeding Population:

Abundant



Egg Color:

Light brown or green with brown and purple marks



Number of Eggs:

4 - 7



Incubation Days:

12 - 14



Egg Incubator:

Female



Nest Material:

Twigs, grass, leaves, rootlets, bits of debris, and feathers.



Migration:

Migratory



Splitbar

Overview

Common Grackle: Medium-sized blackbird with metallic purple sheen on back, head, neck, and breast. Eyes are bright yellow. Central feathers of long, rounded tail are often lowered to show keeled V-shape. Swift, strong direct flight with rapid wing beats, holds tail folded in a V shape while flying.

Range and Habitat

Common Grackle: Resident throughout Florida; breeds throughout North America east of the Rocky Mountains and south of tundra. Inhabits fields, wet meadows, urban areas, shorelines and willow shrublands up to the lower subalpine.

Breeding and Nesting

Common Grackle: Four to seven light brown or green eggs with brown and purple markings are laid in a bulky cup made of twigs, grass, mud, feathers, and occasionally trash. Nest is built in a tree 2 to12 feet above the ground. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Common Grackle: Diet includes insects, bird eggs and nestlings, lizards, fish, fruits, and seeds.

Readily Eats

Peanuts, Canary Seed, Sunflower Seed, Nuts, Sunflower

Vocalization

Common Grackle: Call is a quick, loud "swaaaack."

Similar Species

Common Grackle: Male Great-tailed and Boat-tailed grackles are larger and have longer tails.

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Family Orioles and Blackbirds (Icteridae)_blue
Species Quiscalus quiscula
Length11 - 13.5 Inches
Wingspan17.75 Inches

Common Grackle

Common Grackle: Medium-sized blackbird with metallic purple sheen on back, head, neck, and breast. Eyes are bright yellow. Central feathers of long, rounded tail are often lowered to show keeled V-shape. Swift, strong direct flight with rapid wing beats, holds tail folded in a V shape while flying.

● Song: "swaaaack"

● Foraging & Feeding: Common Grackle: Diet includes insects, bird eggs and nestlings, lizards, fish, fruits, and seeds.

● Breeding & nesting: Common Grackle: Four to seven light brown or green eggs with brown and purple markings are laid in a bulky cup made of twigs, grass, mud, feathers, and occasionally trash. Nest is built in a tree 2 to12 feet above the ground. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Common Grackle: Male Great-tailed and Boat-tailed grackles are larger and have longer tails.

Flight Pattern

Strong swift direct flight on rapidly beating wings.
Common Grackle Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Common Grackle: Resident throughout Florida; breeds throughout North America east of the Rocky Mountains and south of tundra. Inhabits fields, wet meadows, urban areas, shorelines and willow shrublands up to the lower subalpine.
BreedingMonogamous, Colonial
PopulationAbundant
MigrationMigratory
Weight4.5 Ounces