Perch Supply
Diet

What do grackles eat?

Omnivore — seeds, grain, insects, small animals.

Blackbirds (Icteridae)Common GrackleQuiscalus quiscula

Spring and summer diet

  • Beetles, grasshoppers and earthworms

Fall and winter diet

  • Waste grain and acorns

Best feeder foods

  • Cracked corn
  • Sunflower

Grackles arrive in flocks and can dominate open feeders; weight-activated and caged feeders help keep smaller birds fed.

Which feeder works best for grackles →

Where grackles need winter food

Regions where grackles are present in the cold months:

AlabamaArkansasDelawareFloridaGeorgiaIllinoisIndianaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMarylandMississippiMissouriNew JerseyNorth CarolinaOhioOklahomaSouth CarolinaTennesseeTexasVirginiaWest Virginia

Frequently asked

What do grackles eat?

Omnivore — seeds, grain, insects, small animals.

What is the best food to feed grackles?

Cracked corn, Sunflower.

What do grackles eat in winter?

Waste grain and acorns.

Sources

  1. Common Grackle — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Common Grackle life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. 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.