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• Conservation Status
• Taxonomy
• Physical Description
• Distribution
• Habitat
• Diet
• Reproduction
• Migration
• Behavior
• Song/Voice
• Similar Species
• More Info
• Notes
• Keep Exploring

Conservation Status

Status

The Common Grackle can become a nuisance when in large migratory and winter flocks. Because of the damage these flocks can cause to crops, they are sometimes controlled using scarecrows, noise repellents, and poisoned grain. This species is common throughout its southeastern range.

Taxonomy

Notes:

Name Status: Accepted Name. Latest taxonomic scrutiny: 17-Oct-2001

Physical Description

Family Fringillidae:

A Family of seed-eating, small to moderately large passerine birds that have strong, stubby beaks, which in some species can be quite large. They have a bouncing flight, alternating flapping with gliding on closed wings. Most sing well.

Images:

Distribution

Range and Population

North America

Habitat

In addition to habitat used for breeding, the Common Grackle inhabits crop lands, fields, small stands of pines, and lawns during the winter.

Diet

The diet of this species is quite variable. It includes insects, small vertebrates, bird eggs, nestlings, fruits, seeds, grains, nuts, and acorns. Most food is located by searching the ground and vegetation.

Reproduction

The breeding season begins in late March, peaks in April, and extends into early August. Breeding habitat is primarily conifer groves in residential or rural areas. Nesting is usually in loose colonies, with from 2-100 pairs breeding together. Nests are commonly in evergreen trees from 0.6-3.6 m (2-12 feet) above the ground, but occasionally the Common Grackle will also nest in cavities or on ledges. The cup-shaped nest is constructed from grass, twigs, other plant material, mud, and some paper, string, or other trash. The female lays 2-6 (usually 4-5) eggs that she incubates for 13-14 days. The young are altricial and fledge 16-20 days after hatching. The young are cared for by the adults while they are in the nest and for a few days after fledging.

• Breeding Habitat: Urban
• Nest Location: Mid-story/canopy nesting
• Nest Type: Open-cup
• Clutch Size: 3-6
• Length of Incubation: 13-14 days
• Days to Fledge: 16-20
• Number of Broods: 1, occasionally 2

Migration

Migratory

Behavior

During migration and winter, the Common Grackle flocks in very large groups with many other blackbird species; sometimes more than one million birds may roost together.

Song/Voice

Quiscalus quiscula
Recordist: John R. Sauer Copyright Holder: John R. Sauer Permissions for Use: See here.

Similar Species

Great-Tailed Grackle, Boat-Tailed Grackle

Members of the genus Quiscalus:

There are approximately 59 species in this genus.: Q. aequatorialis · Q. agelaius · Q. assimilis · Q. graysoni · Q. guiscula · Q. inflexirostris · Q. lugubris · Q. lugubris contrusus · Q. lugubris fortirostris · Q. lugubris guadeloupensis · Q. lugubris guadoloupensis · Q. lugubris inflexirostris · Q. lugubris lugubris · Q. lugubris luminosus · Q. lugubris orquillensis · Q. macrurus · Q. major (Boat-Tailed Grackle) · Q. major alabamensis · Q. major major · Q. major torreyi · Q. major westoni · Q. mexicanus (Great-Tailed Grackle) · Q. mexicanus grausoni · Q. mexicanus graysoni · Q. mexicanus loweryi · Q. mexicanus mexicanus · Q. mexicanus monsoni · Q. mexicanus nelsoni · Q. mexicanus obscurus · Q. mexicanus peruianus · Q. mexicanus peruvianus · Q. mexicanus prosopidicola · Q. mexicanus prospidicola · Q. mexicanus ssp · Q. mexicnaus · Q. nicaraguensis (Nicaraguan Grackle) · Q. niger (Greater Antillean Grackle) · Q. niger bangsi · Q. niger brachypterus · Q. niger caribaeus · Q. niger caymanensis · Q. niger crassirostris · Q. niger gundlachii · Q. niger niger · Q. palustris (Slender-Billed Grackle) · Q. quiscala · Q. Q. · Q. quiscula (Common Grackle) · Q. quiscula aeneus · Q. quiscula areneus · Q. quiscula quiscula · Q. quiscula ridgwayi · Q. quiscula ssp · Q. quiscula stonei · Q. quiscula veriscula · Q. quiscula versicalor · Q. quiscula versicolor · Q. quiscula x · Q. versicolor

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Notes

Contributors:

• Bisby, F.A., Y.R. Roskov, M.A. Ruggiero, T.M. Orrell, L.E. Paglinawan, P.W. Brewer, N. Bailly, J. van Hertum, eds (2007). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2007 Annual Checklist. Species 2000: Reading, U.K.
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed June 03, 2006. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from provider.
• Hines, J. E., Gregory Gough, J. R. Sauer, et al. USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
• NatureServe. 2003. Downloadable animal data sets. NatureServe Central Databases. Accessed February 6, 2005.
• Sauer, J. R., J. E. Hines, and J. Fallon. 2005. The North American Breeding Bird Survey, Results and Analysis 1966 - 2004. Version 2005.2. USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD
• Sauer, J. R., S. Schwartz, and B. Hoover. 1996. The Christmas Bird Count Home Page. Version 95.1. USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD
• The Georgia Museum of Natural History and Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Identifiers:

• Integrated Taxonomic Information System Serial Number: 179104
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 240617
• Natural Heritage Network Species Identifier: ABPBXB6070
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 238