Photo: Rhododendrites / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Common Grackle
Quiscalus quiscula
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.
Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) is a member of the Icteridae family found in North America. Adults weigh 105 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Icteridae Oropendolas, New World Orioles, Blackbirds
- Genus Quiscalus
- Species quiscula
Quick facts
- Weight
- 105 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Icteridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Male vs female
Male appears black but is glossy overall with an iridescent bluish-purple head contrasting a bronzy-sheened body, and a bright pale-yellow eye; the female is only slightly smaller and slightly less glossy, otherwise closely resembling the male.
Juvenile appearance
Dull dark brown and less glossy than adults, with a dark (not yellow) eye.
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Common Grackle is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Common Grackle is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) is a species of bird in the Icteridae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across North America. Its distribution covers NA c, e.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 105 g, with a wing length of about 13.3 cm and a tail of around 11.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 8.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Common Grackle?
The Common Grackle is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 105 g.
Where does the Common Grackle live?
The Common Grackle is found across North America with a range covering NA c, e, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Common Grackle belong to?
The Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) belongs to the Icteridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Common Grackle eat?
The Common Grackle is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Common Grackle migrate?
The Common Grackle is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Common Grackle endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Common Grackle make?
1 real field recording of the Common Grackle — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Common Grackle's range?
The Common Grackle has a mapped global range of about 8.2 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
Common Grackle vs Common Starling: How to Tell Them Apart
How to tell a Common Grackle from a Common Starling — size, range, family and status compared side by side, with links to each bird’s full ID guide.