Preferred Seed:
Sunflower seed, Millet, Cracked corn
Description:
The Common Grackle is a large, glossy blackbird often seen in flocks around fields, wetlands, and backyard feeders. These bold birds are highly adaptable and frequently gather beneath feeders to search for spilled seed.
Feeder Type:
Platform, Hopper, Ground
Nesting:
Common Grackles build bulky cup shaped nests in trees, shrubs, or dense vegetation, often near water. Nests are made of twigs, grasses, and mud, and are sometimes built in loose colonies.
Identification:
A large blackbird with a long keel shaped tail and striking iridescent plumage. The body appears dark with purple and bronze tones, while the head often shows a bluish sheen. Their pale yellow eyes give them a sharp, piercing look. Males and females look similar, though males are usually slightly larger.
Song Description:
A harsh, squeaky call often described as a rusty gate sound. Their song is loud, scratchy, and mechanical sounding.
How to Attract:
• Offer mixed seed blends that contain sunflower or millet
• Use platform feeders that can accommodate larger birds
• Allow some seed to fall beneath feeders where they can forage
• Provide open areas where flocks can gather
Fun Fact:
Common Grackles often gather in enormous flocks outside the breeding season, sometimes forming groups of thousands of birds at feeding areas or nighttime roosts.
Residency:
Year round resident across much of the eastern United States. Northern populations in Canada migrate south during winter, while southern populations remain throughout the year.
Region:
Southern Canada, United States
Range Map:
Range Map © Chirp Nook
Best Seed Blend For
Common Grackle
Common Grackle
