Field Guide/Birds/Quiscalus quiscula
| Common Grackle | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photo: Grackle | ||||||||||||||
| Scientific Classification | ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Quiscalus quiscula |
The Common Grackle, Quiscalus quiscula, is a large blackbird.
Adults have a long dark bill, a pale yellowish eye and a long tail; their plumage is an irridescent black. Adult females are slightly smaller and less glossy.
Their breeding habitat is open and semi-open areas across North America east of the Rocky Mountains. The nest is a well-concealed cup in dense trees or shrubs, usually near water; sometimes, they will nest in cavities or in man-made structures. They often nest in colonies, some being quite large.
This bird is a permanent resident in much of its range. Northern birds migrate in flocks to the southeastern United States.
These birds forage on the ground, in shallow water or in shrubs; they will steal food from other birds. They are omnivorous, eating insects, minnows, frogs, eggs, berries, seeds and grain, even small birds.
This bird's song is particularly harsh, especially when a flock of these birds are calling.
The range of this bird expanded west as forests were cleared. In some areas, they are now considered a pest by farmers because of their large numbers and fondness for grain.
