General

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. Female is smaller and duller. Juvenile is dark brown with dark eyes.

Range and Habitat

Common Grackle: Breeds throughout North America east of the Rocky Mountains and south of tundra, though it is only found in the northern portions of its range during summer months. Resident from southern New England and Minnesota south to the Gulf Coast. 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

Cracked Corn, Suet, Millet, Nuts, Sunflower

Vocalization

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

Similar Species

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