How long do grackles live?
The oldest Common Grackle on record lived to 23.1 years, a record from a wild bird. That is a ceiling, not an average: most wild grackles live only a few years.
- Longest recorded lifespan
- 23.1 years
- Record from
- Wild bird
- Eggs per clutch
- 4–6 eggs
- Broods per year
- 1–2 per season
- Size
- 11–13.4 in, 2.6–5 oz
- Rank in family (of species on this site)
- 1 of 14
Record age versus typical age
Longevity records come from birds that were marked and later found again, usually through bird banding, or from birds kept in zoos. They show what a Common Grackle can survive to, not what most do.
For small birds, the first year is the hardest. Many eggs and nestlings are lost to predators and weather, and young birds that leave the nest still have to learn to find food and avoid hawks and cats. A bird that survives its first winter has a much better chance of living several more years. That is why average lifespans in the wild are short even when the record is long.
How grackles compare with relatives
Oldest recorded ages for other blackbirds on this site.
- Red-winged Blackbird20 years
- Yellow-headed Blackbird18 years
- Orchard Oriole17.7 years
- Brown-headed Cowbird16.9 years
- Baltimore Oriole14 years
- Boat-tailed Grackle13.9 years
More about grackles
Frequently asked
How long do grackles live?
The longest-lived Common Grackle on record reached 23.1 years, recorded from a wild bird. Most wild grackles live far shorter lives, because the majority of young birds don't survive their first year.
What is the oldest Common Grackle ever recorded?
23.1 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.
How many young can a Common Grackle raise in a year?
Pairs lay 4–6 eggs and raise 1–2 per season.
Source: AnAge, The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources), record quality "acceptable", sample size "medium". genomics.senescence.info