Common Grackle Bird – Passerines – 5/9/2011-2015

The male Common Grackle was photographed at Wehr Nature Center in Franklin, Wisconsin

The female Common Grackle was photographed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The juvenile Common Grackle was photographed at Myrtle Beach, in South Carolina

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Common Grackle

The Common Grackle is an iridescent blackbird larger than a Robin with a long wedge-shaped tail and a long heavy bill. The male has an iridescent purple head and a deep bronze or dull purple on the back. The female Common Grackle has a duller purple head and a browner, less iridescent on the back. The juvenile Common Grackle is a dull brown with various spotting depending on whether it is male or female. Depending on how the light hits the bird it may look almost black. It has a range of Canada and the United States east of the Rockies. It has a habitat of farmland, towns, groves, and streamsides. It feeds on insects of all types, worms, crayfish, other birds, and vegetable matter, such as berries and seeds. They are often seen nesting in small colonies and perching together in treetops.

 

Great Tailed Grackle Bird – Passerines – 12/25/2013

The male Great-Tailed Grackle was photographed in San Antonio, Texas

The female Great-Tailed Grackle was photographed in San Antonio, Texas

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Great Tailed Grackle

The male Great-Tailed grackle is a large purple-blue-glossed bird with long tail and pale yellow eyes. The female Great-tailed Grackle is much smaller than the male and is brown-gray with a paler breast and pale yellow-white eyes. It has a range from the southwest United States to Peru. It has a habitat in open and semi open country, groves, thickets, farms, towns, and city parks. Its diet is varied that includes insects, spiders, millipedes, snails, crayfish, tadpoles, small fish, lizards, and eggs. It often feeds and moves in flocks.

 

 

Boat – Tailed Grackle Bird – passerines 6/19/2010

The Boat-Tailed Grackle is found in Florida and the East and Gulf coasts

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Boat-Tailed Grackle

The Boat-Tailed Grackle is a large iridescent blackbird with a longer tail. Found along the Gulf and Eastern coasts of the US, also inland in Florida.