ExploreBird

Common Grackle

Quiscalus quiscula

The Common Grackle is a shiny black bird with a long tail. They are known for their beautiful colors and cheerful songs!

Habitat: Fields, parks, and near water

Appearance

The Common Grackle is a medium-sized songbird with glossy black plumage that shines iridescent purple, blue, or green in sunlight. It has strikingly bright yellow eyes and a long, keel-shaped tail, which helps distinguish it from other blackbirds.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderPasseriformesFamilyIcteridaeGenusQuiscalus

Common Grackle

Interesting facts

Common Grackles can crack open hard corn kernels, even without strong beaks like a parrot!

Grackles sometimes steal food from other birds, like robins and sparrows.

Their name "grackle" comes from the Latin word "graculus," meaning jackdaw.

They are one of the most widespread and abundant birds in North America.

Special abilities

Common Grackle can rub ants on its feathers because of chemicals in ants that help them get rid of parasites.

Common Grackle has been observed using bread as bait that helps them catch small fish or insects from water.

Common Grackle has a unique keeled tail that helps them steer and balance expertly while flying.

Measurements & details

Length: 28-34 cm
Wingspan: 36-46 cm
Weight: 0.075-0.142 kg
Lifespan: 5-15 years
Top Speed: 60 km/h
Clutch Size: 4-6
Incubation: 12-14 days
Migration Distance: 3000 km

Diet & Feeding

Common Grackles are adaptable omnivores, eating everything from insects and seeds to fruits and even small animals!

Primary Foods

Insects
Corn
Berries
Seeds
Small fish
Bird eggs

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eats

Corn

Zea mays

Consumes grains from agricultural fields.

eaten by

Cooper's Hawk

Accipiter cooperii

A common predator hunting adult grackles.

shelters

Northern Red Oak

Quercus rubra

Often builds nests in deciduous trees.

eats

Silky Ant

Formica fusca

Eats ants and uses them for 'anting'.

Traits

Wildlife

Step into the incredible world of wild animals and plants living freely in nature. From tiny insects to towering trees, it's all part of the wild wonders around us!

Feathered

These are animals covered in soft, beautiful feathers that help them fly, stay warm, and even attract mates! Think of all the amazing birds you know.

Social

Discover creatures that love to live and work together! These animals form groups, helping each other find food, stay safe, and raise their young.

Omnivorous

Meet versatile eaters who enjoy a wide variety of foods, from plants to other animals, allowing them to adapt to many different environments. They're nature's flexible diners!