What does the Boat-tailed Grackle eat?

The Boat-tailed Grackle's diet shapes where and when you'll find it. Understanding what it eats helps you predict where to look.

Diet overview

Omnivore

How it forages

Highly opportunistic omnivores. They forage on the ground, in shallow water, and in trees. Diet includes insects (grasshoppers, beetles, grubs), spiders, crustaceans (crabs, crayfish), small fish, frogs, lizards, eggs and nestlings of other birds, seeds, grains, fruits, and human scraps. They are known to 'dip' food in water before consuming it, a behavior thought to soften food or remove undesirable parts.

When it feeds

Diurnal. Most active during daylight hours, foraging and interacting.

Explore the Boat-tailed Grackle