The Common Grackle
The Common Grackle is an opportunistic feeder. They will devour insects, grains, frogs, mice, and even the eggs and hatchlings of other birds.
The Common Grackle
Description
The Common Grackle is a medium-large blackbird measuring 11 to 13 inches in length. They have a long dark bill, pale yellow eyes and a long keel-shaped tail. Their plumage is an iridescent black. Its black coat is glossy with a blue-green or purple sheen to it. In the West and New England there are subspecies that are more of bronze in coloring. The females are smaller and have less gloss in their plumage. Range and Habitat
The Common Grackle is an adaptable bird and can be found almost anywhere but usually migrate southward during the coldest part of the winter. They prefer open areas with a scattering of coniferous trees. They can be found in farmlands, orchards and even swamplands. They are a common sight in city parks, cemeteries, and backyards. Common Grackle
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The Common Grackle's courtship dance is a series of jerky movements. With its head, tail, and wings lowered, it squeals. It's not a melodious sound, but certainly loud enough to get a female's attention!
Mating and Nesting
The Common Grackle's nest is cup shaped mass of woody stems, leaves grass, and bark. It is usually built in a well-concealed cluster of dense trees or shrubs usually near water. They will occasionally us an abandoned woodpecker cavity or move in and take over an active nest.The female will lay 1 to 7 light bluish-gray eggs. They are incubated for 13 to 14 days and the fledglings will leave the nest within 20 days of hatching.
The Common Grackle only raises one brood per season and usually nests in large colonies.
They nest in large colonies with up to hundred pairs within a given area.
Diet
The Common Grackle is an opportunistic eater. They will forage on the ground, in shallow water, and bushes eating insects, minnows, frogs, berries, seeds and grain. When food is scares, smaller birds become prey. They dominate birdfeeders and can empty it within hours. Popular Birdfeeders
Voice
The Common Grackle is definately not a songbird. It's voice is very harsh.Listen to the call of the Common Grackle: Sound Byte: The Common Grackle, National Park Service
Unhappy Fact
The Common Grackle is not a popular bird with the farmers. They gather in large flocks and feast on the fruits of his labors. They can cause an extensive amount of damage and eat a tremendous amount of grain. The Common Grackle
Identifying Backyard Birds
Elizabeth's Websites
- South Carolina Birder
- An information blog on wild birds, birdwatching, and creating a backyard bird sanctuary.
- Elizabeth Jean Allen, Author Page
- Elizabeth Jean Allen grew up in rural Minnesota, but has spent most of her adult life on the shores of South Carolina. She currently resides in Charleston, SC with her husband Chris and their two sons, Charles and Gregory. She spends the bulk of the year teaching high school science, and spends what little free time she has, reading, writing, and studying the birds.
- Lizzy's Blog: Stepping Out and Taking a Chance
- Lizzy's blog touches on topics such as writing, getting published, writing full time vs writing part time, publishing online, and the doubts and fears most writer deal with on a daily bases.
John James Audubon
Audubon's masterpieces: 150 prints from the Birds of America
Amazon Price: (as of 09/05/2008)
John James Audubon spent a lifetime recording the behavior of and drawing the birds of North America. Audubon Masterpieces is a collection of 150 of his best works.
Lizzy's Lenses
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Busy Lizzy's Backyard Birds
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As we go through life, some sights and events have a profound impact on our lives, while others flitter past unnoticed. Some passions can be traced back to that single pivotal point while others grow seemingly unnoticed for years. I am a morning pers...
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Busy Lizzy's Aquatic Birds
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Aquatic birds live on or near bodies of water. They acquire their food from the water, the shorelines, or animals within the same region. They include seabirds, such as gulls, pelicans, albatrosses, and ducks, swans and geese.
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Busy Lizzy's Birds of Prey
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Birds of Prey or Raptors are birds that usually hunt on the wing. They use their keen sense of sight to spot prey, swoop down, and capture it. They usually have large, powerful beaks and talons for tearing and piercing the flesh of their prey.
Great Gift Ideas
Isle of SquidCheck out the lenses on the Isle of Squid. They are arranged by topic making it easy to find the ones you like.
What interesting birds have you seen?
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titanium_knights
Your lens compilation is perfect. Interesting, informative and fun. Posted May 31, 2008 |
Popular Bird Blogs
Resources used to construct this page.
Peterson, T.P. & Peterson, V.M. 2002. Birds of Eastern and Central North America, Fifth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, N.Y.
Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology
Seattle Audubon Society
the Common Grackle, South Dakota Birds
