Photo: Connie Denyes / CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Boat-tailed Grackle
Quiscalus major
Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major) is a member of the Icteridae family found in North America. Adults weigh 151 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Icteridae Oropendolas, New World Orioles, Blackbirds
- Genus Quiscalus
- Species major
Quick facts
- Weight
- 151 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Icteridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Boat-tailed 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 Boat-tailed Grackle is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major) belongs to the Icteridae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across North America. Its distribution covers NA e, se USA.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 151 g, with a wing length of about 15.5 cm and a tail of around 14.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 203,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Boat-tailed Grackle?
The Boat-tailed Grackle is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 151 g.
Where does the Boat-tailed Grackle live?
The Boat-tailed Grackle is found across North America with a range covering NA e, se USA, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Boat-tailed Grackle belong to?
The Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major) belongs to the Icteridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Boat-tailed Grackle eat?
The Boat-tailed Grackle is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Boat-tailed Grackle migrate?
The Boat-tailed Grackle is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Boat-tailed Grackle endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Boat-tailed Grackle make?
1 real field recording of the Boat-tailed 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 Boat-tailed Grackle's range?
The Boat-tailed Grackle has a mapped global range of about 203,000 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
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