{"id":9812,"date":"2021-10-30T10:18:47","date_gmt":"2021-10-30T10:18:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/?p=9812"},"modified":"2022-04-11T17:41:34","modified_gmt":"2022-04-11T17:41:34","slug":"grackle","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/grackle\/","title":{"rendered":"Grackle: Key Facts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Did you know that grackles are native to the Western Hemisphere? Or that some migrate for the winter<\/a> while others don\u2019t? Keep reading to learn more about these and other grackle key facts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quick Facts About Grackles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Scientific Name:<\/strong><\/td>Quiscalus<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
Number of Species:<\/strong><\/td>10<\/td><\/tr>
Physical Description:<\/strong><\/td>Iridescent medium-sized black songbird with blue, violet, bronze, or yellow overtones on their head, chest, and back. Males usually have brighter colorings than females. Grackles have black beaks and yellow eyes. <\/td><\/tr>
Distribution:<\/strong><\/td>Widely distributed throughout North, Central, and South America<\/td><\/tr>
Habitat:<\/strong><\/td>Varies widely; potential habitats include meadows, woodlands, marshes, agricultural fields, and suburban areas.<\/td><\/tr>
Migratory?<\/strong><\/td>Those living in colder regions migrate; those living in warmer regions do not.<\/td><\/tr>
Average Size:<\/strong><\/td>– 10-15 inches long
– 2.5-5 ounces in weight<\/td><\/tr>
Average Lifespan:<\/strong><\/td>17-22 years<\/td><\/tr>
Number of Eggs:<\/strong><\/td>1-7 per nesting season<\/td><\/tr>
Diet:<\/strong><\/td>Omnivorous and opportunistic; common foods<\/a> include:
– Insects
– Seeds
– Grains
– Berries
– Minnows
– Frogs
– Bird eggs
– Small birds<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What Are Grackles?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Grackles are medium sized songbirds, black with shimmery color on their head, chest, and back. Their exact coloring varies by species, but they frequently have overtones of blue, purple, bronze, yellow, and even green. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grackles eat anything and everything, including uneaten bits of human food they find in trash cans or near picnic tables. They aren\u2019t shy around humans and are often found congregating in store and restaurant parking lots, looking for an easy meal. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grackles are known for creating flocks. They tend to gather in especially large flocks during winter; sometimes a single flock will contain up to a million birds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grackles are semi-migratory, meaning that some of them migrate during the winter while others do not. Generally, grackles living further north migrate south in flocks, while grackles already living in the south stay put year round. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out the following video to learn more about the common grackle, one of the most widespread species in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=YPd_csxmJSA<\/a>