Common Grackle look-alikes

Key differences

Boat-tailed Grackles are larger, especially the males, with an even longer, more pronounced keel-shaped tail. Males are glossy black with a purplish sheen, while females are duller brown. Their range is restricted to coastal areas of the southeastern U.S. and Gulf Coast. Common Grackles have bright yellow eyes, while Boat-tailed Grackles have dark eyes in the eastern part of their range and yellow eyes in the western part, making eye color less reliable for distinction in some areas.

Key differences

Great-tailed Grackles are also larger than Common Grackles, with an extremely long tail, particularly in males. Males are iridescent black with a purplish-blue sheen. Females are dark brown with a paler throat. Their range is primarily in the southwestern U.S., Mexico, and Central America. Common Grackles have bright yellow eyes, while Great-tailed Grackles have yellow eyes, but their larger size and longer tail are key differentiators.

Key differences

Brewer's Blackbirds are smaller and have a shorter tail than Common Grackles. Males are glossy black with a purplish head and greenish body, and bright yellow eyes. Females are dull gray-brown with dark eyes. The head shape is also different, with Brewer's having a more rounded head. Common Grackles have a more pronounced keel-shaped tail and a more bronze-purple body iridescence.