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Help develop a Bird ID tool!

Boat-tailed Grackle

Quiscalus major ORDER: PASSERIFORMES FAMILY: ICTERIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

A large, long-tailed blackbird, the Boat-tailed Grackle is found exclusively along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of the United States. The noisy, iridescent, purple-black male is hard to miss when it displays on power lines and telephone poles. The smaller brown female is much less conspicuous, and might even be mistaken for a different species.

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Appearance

Blackbirds
Blackbirds
Typical Voice

Adult Description

  • Large blackbird.
  • Long tail.
  • Male shiny black, female brown.

Male Description

Iridescent purple-black over entire body, wings and tail more greenish. Eye color variable from dark brown to light yellow.

Female Description

One-half size of male. Back and head cinnamon brown. Breast and belly paler brown or buffy. Tail and wings dark brown. Pale brown line above eye contrasts slightly with indistinct dark line through eye. Eye color variable from cream to dark brown.

Immature Description

Juvenile is brown like female, with streaked underparts.

Range Map Help

Boat-tailed Grackle Range Map
View dynamic map of eBird sightings

Field MarksHelp

  • Adult male

    Boat-tailed Grackle

    Adult male
    • © Marie Read
  • Female Gulf Coast form

    Boat-tailed Grackle

    Female Gulf Coast form
    • © Kevin T. Karlson

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