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Common Grackle
Quiscalus quiscula
Audubon Illustration
John James Audubon, Birds of America (1827-1838). Public domain.
Migration Flyway
Showing primary migration corridor(s) for this species
Last Spotted Near You
About the Common Grackle
The common grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) is an icterid bird found in large numbers through much of North America. It was first described in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus and has three officially recognized subspecies. Adult common grackles have a long and dark bill, pale yellow eyes, and a long tail. Adults often have a bluish iridescent appearance on their head, this feature being more pronounced on males. Common grackles can be found widely across North America east of the Rocky Mountains and are highly adaptable to their environment.
Source: Wikipedia
Classification
- Scientific name
- Quiscalus quiscula
- Family
- Troupials and Allies
- Order
- Passeriformes
Similar species
Other members of the troupials and allies family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.
- Altamira Oriole Icterus gularis
- Audubon's Oriole Icterus graduacauda
- Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula
- Bar-winged Oriole Icterus maculialatus
- Black-backed Oriole Icterus abeillei
- Black-cowled Oriole Icterus prosthemelas
- Black-vented Oriole Icterus wagleri
- Boat-tailed Grackle Quiscalus major
- Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus
- Brewer's Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus
- Bronzed Cowbird Molothrus aeneus
- Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater
Know when the Common Grackle turns up near you
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Optics
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