Common Grackles in Maine
When grackles are present in Maine, when they nest, which native Maine plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–6b yard.
- Status in Maine
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–June
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–6b
When to expect grackles in Maine
Common Grackles are summer residents in Maine, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on beetles, grasshoppers and earthworms.
Humid continental with a long, rocky Atlantic coast and extensive northern spruce-fir forest.
Nesting in Maine
Across Maine, grackles typically nest from May–June. Nest site: bulky cup in dense conifers, often in loose colonies. Females lay 4–6 eggs, incubate for 13–14 days, and young leave the nest after 12–15 days.
Cool, short summers; many songbirds do not begin nesting until late May.
- Common Grackles don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as white oak, bur oak, paper birch for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.
Native Maine plants that attract grackles
Of the regional native plants we track for Maine, these 8 provide food or cover grackles use:
Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Feeding grackles through the Maine year
Grackles arrive in flocks and can dominate open feeders; weight-activated and caged feeders help keep smaller birds fed.
- Best foods: Cracked corn, Sunflower.
- In Maine's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are grackles in Maine year-round?
No. Common Grackles are summer breeders in Maine and leave for the winter.
When do grackles nest in Maine?
Nesting in Maine typically runs May–June, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 4–6 eggs, incubated for 13–14 days.
What native plants attract grackles in Maine?
White oak, Bur oak, Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch are native plants in Maine that provide food or cover for grackles.
Common Grackles in other regions
Other backyard birds in Maine
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
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Maine
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
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.