Common Grackles in New Hampshire
When grackles are present in New Hampshire, when they nest, which native New Hampshire plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–6a yard.
- Status in New Hampshire
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–June
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–6a
When to expect grackles in New Hampshire
Common Grackles are summer residents in New Hampshire, 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 the White Mountains dividing the southern lowlands from northern forest.
Nesting in New Hampshire
Across New Hampshire, 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.
Mild summers; nesting starts late May.
- Common Grackles don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as white oak, paper birch, sugar maple for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.
Native New Hampshire plants that attract grackles
Of the regional native plants we track for New Hampshire, these 8 provide food or cover grackles use:
Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.
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.
Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects.
Feeding grackles through the New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are grackles in New Hampshire year-round?
No. Common Grackles are summer breeders in New Hampshire and leave for the winter.
When do grackles nest in New Hampshire?
Nesting in New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire?
White oak, Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch, Sugar maple are native plants in New Hampshire that provide food or cover for grackles.
Common Grackles in other regions
Other backyard birds in New Hampshire
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 — New Hampshire
- 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.