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Common Grackle

Quiscalus quisculaOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Blackbirds and Orioles (Icteridae)
Common Grackle Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: Dagger, All-purpose
  • Eye Color: Brown in juveniles; Yellow in adults.
  • Head Pattern: Plain
  • Crown Color: Glossy black with iridescent purple sheen.
  • Forehead Color: Glossy black with iridescent purple sheen.
  • Nape Color: Glossy black with iridescent purple sheen.
  • Throat Color: Glossy black with iridescent purple sheen.
  • Cere color: No Data
Common Grackle Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 28-34 cm (11-13.5 in)
  • Weight: 128 g (4.5 oz)
  • Size: Size 3. Medium (9 - 16 in)
  • Color: Black
  • Underparts: Glossy black
  • Upperparts: Glossy black with iridescent purple sheen.
  • Back Pattern: Solid
  • Belly Pattern: Solid
  • Breast Pattern: Solid
Common Grackle Flight Illustration

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Strong swift direct flight on rapidly beating wings.
  • Wingspan Range: 43-47 cm (17-18.5 in)
  • Wing Shape: Pointed-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Squared Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Solid
  • Upper Tail: Glossy black
  • Under Tail: Glossy black
  • Leg Color: Black
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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