Great-tailed Grackle

About

The Great-tailed Grackle is a large, conspicuous passerine bird native to North and Central America. Known for its iridescent black plumage, long tail, and distinctive calls, it has successfully adapted to human-modified landscapes and is often found in urban and suburban areas.

Size & lifespan

Length

33-46 cm (13-18 in)

Wingspan

40-52 cm (16-20.5 in)

Weight

88-265 g (3.1-9.3 oz)

Lifespan

Up to 12 years in the wild

Diet

Omnivore

Physical characteristics

Plumage

Adult males are entirely iridescent black, appearing purple-blue to green in strong light. Adult females are smaller, duller, and typically dark brown on the upperparts with lighter brown underparts, sometimes with a darker cap and streaking on the throat. Juveniles resemble females but are often paler and more streaky.

Beak shape

Long, stout, conical, and sharply pointed; black in color.

Eye color

Bright yellow (adults), dark brown (juveniles)

Leg color

Black

Distinguishing features

Males possess an exceptionally long, keel-shaped tail, often longer than their body. Females have a noticeably shorter tail. Both sexes have striking yellow eyes.

Juvenile appearance

Juveniles are similar to adult females but are generally paler brown, often with more noticeable streaking on the breast and throat. Their eyes are dark brown, gradually changing to yellow as they mature.

Seasonal changes

No significant seasonal plumage changes. Plumage remains consistent year-round, though wear and tear can make iridescence appear less vibrant over time.

Sexual dimorphism

Pronounced sexual dimorphism. Males are significantly larger (up to 50% heavier) and have a much longer, iridescent black tail and body. Females are smaller, duller brown, and have a shorter, less prominent tail.

How to identify

1. 1

   Size and Shape

   Look for a large, slender black bird with a very long tail, especially in males. The tail is often held in a distinctive V-shape during flight.

2. 2

   Plumage Color

   Males are iridescent black, appearing purple, blue, or green in good light. Females are dark brown with a paler breast and a shorter tail.

3. 3

   Eye Color

   Adults have striking bright yellow eyes, a key field mark.

4. 4

   Vocalizations

   Listen for their distinctive, often harsh and varied calls, including raspy notes, whistles, and gurgles. They are very noisy birds.

5. 5

   Behavior

   Observe their confident, often bold behavior, foraging on the ground, and their tendency to gather in large, noisy flocks, especially at roosts.

Habitat & range

Biomes

Grasslands, shrublands, wetlands, urban, suburban, agricultural areas

Geographic range

Southwestern United States (from California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado) through Mexico and Central America to northern South America (Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru).

Elevation range

Sea level up to 2,500 meters (8,200 feet), occasionally higher.

Preferred environments

Highly adaptable, preferring open or semi-open habitats with scattered trees, shrubs, and access to water. Commonly found in parks, golf courses, agricultural fields, suburban neighborhoods, shopping centers, and city centers.

Behavior

Activity time

Diurnal

Feeding habits

Highly opportunistic omnivores. Forage on the ground, in trees, and in shallow water. Diet includes insects (grasshoppers, beetles, grubs), spiders, small vertebrates (lizards, frogs, nestlings, eggs), fruits, seeds, grains, and human refuse. They often 'dip' food in water before eating, a behavior known as 'dunking'.

Social behavior

Highly social, especially outside the breeding season, forming large communal roosts that can number in the thousands. During breeding, they often nest in loose colonies. They can be aggressive towards other birds, especially around food sources.

Flight pattern

Strong, direct flight with steady wingbeats. The long tail of the male is often held in a V-shape during flight, especially when displaying.

Migration pattern

Primarily resident throughout much of its range, particularly in the southern parts. Northern populations may undertake short-distance migrations, moving south for the winter, but many are expanding their year-round range northward.

Territoriality

Males defend small territories around nesting sites during the breeding season. Outside of breeding, they are less territorial, often foraging in groups.

Breeding & reproduction

Breeding season

Typically March to July, varying by latitude. Can have multiple broods per year.

Nesting habits

Nests are typically bulky, cup-shaped structures made of twigs, grasses, mud, and sometimes artificial materials. They are usually placed in trees or tall shrubs, often near water, and frequently in loose colonies.

Clutch size

3-5 eggs

Egg description

3-5 eggs, pale blue to greenish-blue, heavily marked with dark brown, black, or purple spots, streaks, and blotches, particularly at the larger end.

Incubation period

13-14 days

Fledging period

12-17 days after hatching

Parental care

Primarily the female incubates the eggs and broods the young. Both parents feed the nestlings, though the female does the majority of the work. Males may guard the nest and help feed fledglings.

Where to find

Field tips

1. Listen for their calls. Great-tailed Grackles are very vocal and often announce their presence with their distinctive, varied calls. Listen for their noisy chatter, especially in groups.
2. Look in open areas. They prefer open or semi-open habitats. Scan lawns, fields, and paved areas where they often forage for food.
3. Observe communal roosts. At dawn and dusk, look for large numbers of grackles gathering in trees or on power lines, particularly in urban settings. These roosts can be massive and very noisy.
4. Check for 'dunking' behavior. If near water, watch for them dipping food items into the water before consuming them, a characteristic feeding behavior.

Similar species

Quick facts

Tail Length (Male):

Can be as long as the body

Eye Color:

Bright yellow (adults)

Diet:

Highly opportunistic omnivore

Sociality:

Highly social, forms large roosts

Habitat Adaptability:

Thrives in human-modified landscapes

Fun facts

• The Great-tailed Grackle has significantly expanded its range northward over the last century, largely due to its adaptability to human-altered environments and agricultural expansion.
• Males perform an elaborate 'song-spread' display, puffing up their body feathers and fanning their long tail while vocalizing to attract mates.
• They are known for their intelligence and problem-solving abilities, including using tools and observing human behavior to find food.
• Despite their commonality, their complex vocalizations are a subject of scientific study, revealing a wide array of sounds used for communication.

Scientific classification

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Aves

Order

Passeriformes

Family

Icteridae

Genus

Quiscalus

Species

Quiscalus mexicanus

Explore the Great-tailed Grackle