ExploreBirds

Great-tailed Grackle

Quiscalus mexicanus

The Great-tailed Grackle is a shiny black bird with a long tail. They are known for their loud calls and love to gather in big groups, especially in parks and fields.

Habitat: Urban areas

Appearance

The Great-tailed Grackle is a medium-sized bird. Males are sleek, iridescent black with a blue-purple sheen and a distinctively long, keel-shaped tail. Females are smaller and duller brown, lacking the male's strong iridescence.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderPasseriformesFamilyIcteridaeGenusQuiscalus
Great-tailed Grackle
feathered trait badgesocial trait badgeomnivorous trait badgescavenger trait badge
Great-tailed Grackle

Category

Birds

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

A male grackle's tail can be as long as its body!

Grackles gather in huge roosts of thousands at night!

Sometimes, they rub ants on their feathers to deter parasites!

They can open sugar packets and snack bags with their beaks.

Special abilities

Ability

Clever Vocalist

Great-tailed Grackle can mimic various sounds and make a wide range of calls, which helps them communicate complex information.

Ability

Tail Rudder

Great-tailed Grackle has a long, keel-shaped tail that helps them balance and maneuver deftly during flight.

Ability

Problem Solver

Great-tailed Grackle can learn and adapt quickly to new food sources, helping them thrive in diverse, even urban, environments.

Measurements & details

Length
32-43 cm
Wingspan
45-58 cm
Weight
0.08-0.265 kg
Lifespan
10-13 years
Top Speed
55 km/h
Clutch Size
2-5
Incubation
13-14 days
Migration Distance
500 km

Diet & Feeding

Great-tailed Grackles are opportunistic eaters, feasting on anything from insects and seeds to human scraps.

Primary Foods

  • insects
  • seeds
  • fruit
  • small fish
  • human scraps

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

Mexican Grackle

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

It's best to watch these birds from a distance and not feed them directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is Great-tailed Grackle?

32-43 cm

What is Great-tailed Grackle's wingspan?

45-58 cm

How much does Great-tailed Grackle weigh?

0.08-0.265 kg

How long does Great-tailed Grackle live?

10-13 years

How fast can Great-tailed Grackle move?

55 km/h

What does Great-tailed Grackle eat?

Great-tailed Grackles are opportunistic eaters, feasting on anything from insects and seeds to human scraps.

Where is Great-tailed Grackle usually found?

Urban areas

How does Great-tailed Grackle hunt?

Foraging

Snap Map

Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.

Loading map…

Recent Snaps

Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.

Where to spot

More Birds