Common Grackle

Quiscalus quiscula

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Identification

Field notes

32 cm (12-13") Abundant. Central and eastern North America. Casual in Pacific States, especially in late spring. Lawns, parks, fields, streamsides. All black with a metallic sheen.

Iridescent head may appear purple, green or blue. Bright yellow eyes. Long wedge-shaped "showboat" tail.

Immature: sooty brown with dark eyes.

Gregarious.

Song: rusty hinge screech "grideleeek"; call note is a loud "chaack".

Watch and learn

Videos

1 video

Common Grackles Mating Dance

Credit: NovaScotiaNature

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Common Grackle

1 rule

Rule 1 11 criteria confidence 8

Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: No · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Black, purple, or dark
What colour was the BREAST ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: White or light gray · Yellow or olive · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Green · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)

result:992-common-grackle:1:1 Source: 992 Common Grackle, row 1

Common Grackle (Immature)

1 rule

Rule 1 14 criteria confidence 8

Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: No · Unknown
What Color were the UNDERTAIL COVERTS ?: White or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow, olive, or tan (light brown) · Black, dark gray or dark · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: None · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)

result:993-common-grackle-immature:1:1 Source: 993 Common Grackle (Immature), row 1