Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 15–18.1 in
38–46 cm - Weight
- 4.1–9.3 oz
115–265 g
Other Names
- Quiscale à longue queue (French)
- Zanate mexicano, Sanate/Clarinero (Spanish)
Cool Facts
- Three different subspecies of Great-tailed Grackles have expanded into the United States from three separate areas of Mexico.
- The Great-tailed and Boat-tailed grackles have at times been considered the same species. Current thinking is that they are closely related, but different species.
- As it expands its range northward the Great-tailed Grackle tends to migrate out of the most northern areas. It quickly becomes a resident and stays through the winter.
- Great-tailed Grackles roost together in large numbers outside of the breeding season. In Central America these large, noisy roosts frequently are found in the central plaza of small towns.
Habitat
Town
Open areas with scattered trees and nearby water, including pastures, agricultural areas, mangroves, and urban and suburban areas.
Food
Omnivore
Insects, other invertebrates, tadpoles, lizards, small fish, and plant material. Some eggs and bird nestlings.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 1–5 eggs
- Egg Description
- Bright blue to pale bluish gray, scrawled with dark markings, heaviest at large end.
- Condition at Hatching
- Helpless with sparse gray down.
Nest Description
Cup-shaped nest of woven plant material is suspended from small upright branches of trees, shrubs, or rushes. Will use human-made objects for nest site.
Nest Placement
Tree
Behavior
Ground Forager
Display of males conspicuous. Male fans tail, fluffs up the body feathers, extends the wings, and makes loud series of calls (song). Head-up aggressive display used to other grackles by both sexes, but especially by territorial males. Forages in flocks with other blackbirds. Sexes may forage in separate flocks. Follows tractors to get exposed food. Males hold territories that contain nests of several females. Males will protect young from predators, but otherwise provide no parental care.
Conservation
Least Concern
Uses human-modified habitats and has expanded its range. Populations have been increasing in all parts of range. Considered a pest species because it damages some crops.
Credits
- Johnson, K., and B. D. Peer. 2001. Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus). In The Birds of North America, No. 576 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.