Blackbirds (Icteridae)
Common Grackle
Quiscalus quiscula. Omnivore — seeds, grain, insects, small animals.
Blackbirds (Icteridae)Common GrackleQuiscalus quiscula
- Scientific name
- Quiscalus quiscula
- Length
- 11–13.4 in
- Weight
- 2.6–5 oz
- Nest
- Bulky cup in dense conifers, often in loose colonies
- Entrance hole
- Does not use nest boxes
- Clutch
- 4–6 eggs
- Incubation
- 13–14 days
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
Identification
- Glossy black with bronze or purple iridescent head
- Pale yellow eye
- Long, keel-shaped tail
Voice
Rusty-gate squeak and harsh 'chack'.
Diet and feeding
Omnivore — seeds, grain, insects, small animals.
Common Grackles by state and province
| Region | Status | Nesting |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Alberta | Summer breeder | May–June |
| Arkansas | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Colorado | Summer breeder | April–June |
| Connecticut | Summer breeder | April–June |
| Delaware | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Florida | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Georgia | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Illinois | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Indiana | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Iowa | Summer breeder | April–June |
| Kansas | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Kentucky | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Louisiana | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Maine | Summer breeder | May–June |
| Manitoba | Summer breeder | May–June |
| Maryland | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Massachusetts | Summer breeder | April–June |
| Michigan | Summer breeder | April–June |
| Minnesota | Summer breeder | May–June |
| Mississippi | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Missouri | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Montana | Summer breeder | May–June |
| Nebraska | Summer breeder | April–June |
| New Brunswick | Summer breeder | May–June |
| New Hampshire | Summer breeder | May–June |
| New Jersey | Year-round resident | April–June |
| New Mexico | Summer breeder | April–June |
| New York | Summer breeder | April–June |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Summer breeder | May–June |
| North Carolina | Year-round resident | April–June |
| North Dakota | Summer breeder | May–June |
| Nova Scotia | Summer breeder | May–June |
| Ohio | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Oklahoma | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Ontario | Summer breeder | May–June |
| Pennsylvania | Summer breeder | April–June |
| Prince Edward Island | Summer breeder | May–June |
| Quebec | Summer breeder | May–June |
| Rhode Island | Summer breeder | April–June |
| Saskatchewan | Summer breeder | May–June |
| South Carolina | Year-round resident | March–June |
| South Dakota | Summer breeder | April–June |
| Tennessee | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Texas | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Vermont | Summer breeder | May–June |
| Virginia | Year-round resident | April–June |
| West Virginia | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Wisconsin | Summer breeder | May–June |
| Wyoming | Summer breeder | May–June |
Frequently asked
What do grackles eat?
Omnivore — seeds, grain, insects, small animals. At feeders: cracked corn, sunflower.
How big is a Common Grackle?
11–13.4 in long and 2.6–5 oz.
Do grackles use birdhouses?
No. Bulky cup in dense conifers, often in loose colonies.
Sources
- Common Grackle — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Common Grackle life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Common Grackle — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.