Common Grackles in Newfoundland and Labrador
When grackles are present in Newfoundland and Labrador, when they nest, which native Newfoundland and Labrador plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 0a–6b yard.
- Status in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–June
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 0a–6b
When to expect grackles in Newfoundland and Labrador
Common Grackles are summer residents in Newfoundland and Labrador, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on beetles, grasshoppers and earthworms.
Cool maritime on the island of Newfoundland; subarctic in Labrador.
Nesting in Newfoundland and Labrador
Across Newfoundland and Labrador, 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 summers; nesting often starts in June.
- Common Grackles don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, red maple, willow (bebb) for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.
Native Newfoundland and Labrador plants that attract grackles
Of the regional native plants we track for Newfoundland and Labrador, these 5 provide food or cover grackles use:
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Among the first spring bloomers; early insects for returning migrants.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Catkin seed for redpolls on the tundra.
Tall magenta spikes are a key northern hummingbird flower.
Feeding grackles through the Newfoundland and Labrador 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 Newfoundland and Labrador's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are grackles in Newfoundland and Labrador year-round?
No. Common Grackles are summer breeders in Newfoundland and Labrador and leave for the winter.
When do grackles nest in Newfoundland and Labrador?
Nesting in Newfoundland and Labrador 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 Newfoundland and Labrador?
Paper birch, Red maple, Willow (Bebb), Dwarf birch, Fireweed are native plants in Newfoundland and Labrador that provide food or cover for grackles.
Common Grackles in other regions
Other backyard birds in Newfoundland and Labrador
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 — Newfoundland and Labrador
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- 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.