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Great-tailed Grackle

Quiscalus mexicanusOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Blackbirds and Orioles (Icteridae)
Great-tailed Grackle Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: Dagger, All-purpose
  • Eye Color: Dull brown in male juveniles, becoming deep yellow at maturity. Females similar but paler.
  • Head Pattern: Plain
  • Crown Color: Black with iridescent purple sheen.
  • Forehead Color: Black with iridescent purple sheen.
  • Nape Color: Black with iridescent purple sheen.
  • Throat Color: Black with iridescent purple sheen.
  • Cere color: No Data
Great-tailed Grackle Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 27-47 cm (10.5-18.5 in)
  • Weight: 190 g (6.7 oz)
  • Size: Size 3. Medium (9 - 16 in)
  • Color: Black
  • Underparts: Black with iridescent purple sheen.
  • Upperparts: Black with iridescent purple sheen.
  • Back Pattern: Solid
  • Belly Pattern: Solid
  • Breast Pattern: Solid
Great-tailed Grackle Flight Illustration

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Strong swift direct flight on rapidly beating wings.
  • Wingspan Range: 49 cm (19.25 in)
  • Wing Shape: Pointed-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Squared Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Solid
  • Upper Tail: Black
  • Under Tail: Black
  • Leg Color: Black
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Family Orioles and Blackbirds (Icteridae)_blue
Species Quiscalus mexicanus
Length10.5 - 18.5 Inches
Wingspan13.5 - 25 Inches

Great-tailed Grackle

Great-tailed Grackle: Large blackbird, iridescent black body and purple sheen. Yellow eyes. Long, keeled tail. Walks on ground, wades in water to forage. Eats snails, insects, frogs, shrimp, small fish and birds, eggs and young of other birds, fruits, berries, seeds and grains. Strong direct flight.

● Song: "may-ree, may-ree"

● Foraging & Feeding: Great-tailed Grackle: Feeds on insects, worms, small vertebrates (including tadpoles, small fish, and lizards), plant matter, and garbage. Forages while walking on the ground and wading in water; also steals food from other birds.

● Breeding & nesting: Great-tailed Grackle: Three to four light blue to gray eggs with red purple markings are laid in a nest made of grass, bark, and weeds, and built in a palm or shade tree near water. Incubation ranges from 13 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Great-tailed Grackle: Boat-tailed Grackle is usually dark-eyed.

Flight Pattern

Strong swift direct flight on rapidly beating wings.
Great-tailed Grackle Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Great-tailed Grackle: Resident from California, Colorado, Kansas, and western Louisiana southward. Preferred habitats include open areas with scattered trees, cultivated areas, marshes, parks, and areas around human habitation.
BreedingPolygamous, Colonial
Population
MigrationSome migrate
Weight6.7 Ounces