Common Grackles in New York
When grackles are present in New York, when they nest, which native New York plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–7b yard.
- Status in New York
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- April–June
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–7b
When to expect grackles in New York
Common Grackles are summer residents in New York, arriving shortly before nesting begins in April and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on beetles, grasshoppers and earthworms.
Humid continental, from cold Adirondack highlands to the maritime-moderated coast of Long Island.
Nesting in New York
Across New York, grackles typically nest from April–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.
Warm summers with a shorter nesting season upstate than downstate.
- 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 New York plants that attract grackles
Of the regional native plants we track for New York, these 8 provide food or cover grackles use:
Fall seed.
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.
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 New York 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 York's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are grackles in New York year-round?
No. Common Grackles are summer breeders in New York and leave for the winter.
When do grackles nest in New York?
Nesting in New York typically runs April–June, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 4–6 eggs, incubated for 13–14 days.
What native plants attract grackles in New York?
Black-eyed Susan, White oak, Bur oak, Wild bergamot, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch are native plants in New York that provide food or cover for grackles.
Common Grackles in other regions
Other backyard birds in New York
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 York
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
- New York Breeding Bird Atlas III
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.