Great-tailed Grackle in September
Where great-tailed grackles are in September, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
September in the Great-tailed Grackle's year
September is the peak of fall migration. Huge numbers of birds move south on cold fronts, mixed flocks form, and summer residents slip away almost unnoticed. Young birds making their first migration appear in places the species rarely visits.
For the Great-tailed Grackle specifically, September is a fall month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 14 states and provinces where great-tailed grackles occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where great-tailed grackles are in September
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In September, great-tailed grackles are absent in the South, year-round resident across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in September
Great-tailed grackles are not nesting in September. The season runs March–July at mid-latitudes.
Outside the nesting season, great-tailed grackles put their energy into feeding and flocking rather than territory and young — which is exactly what makes them easier to watch and attract this month.
What to feed in September
- Grasshoppers, beetles, lizards and tadpoles
Expanding north fast. Huge roosts gather in parking-lot trees; a cage feeder keeps them off small-bird seed.
Migrants passing through may stop at feeders for a day and never return — September rewards watching closely. Natural seed and fruit crops are abundant, so feeder traffic can be uneven.
Full Great-tailed Grackle diet guide → · Best feeder for great-tailed grackles →
Watching great-tailed grackles this month
Great-tailed grackles are settled and predictable in September, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region great-tailed grackles are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Great-tailed Grackle month by month
Great-tailed Grackle by state
Frequently asked
Where are great-tailed grackles in September?
In September, great-tailed grackles are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do great-tailed grackles nest in September?
No — great-tailed grackles typically nest March through July at mid-latitudes.
What do great-tailed grackles eat in September?
Grasshoppers, beetles, lizards and tadpoles.
Sources
- Great-tailed Grackle — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Great-tailed Grackle life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Great-tailed 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.