Common Grackle
Common Grackle
Adult male
- Overall black plumage
- Iridescent blue and bronze
- Straight, pointed, and heavy dark bill
- Long tail
- © Matt MacGillivray , Ontario, Canada, May 2008
Common Grackle
Adult male
- Pale yellow eye
- Straight, pointed, and heavy dark bill
- Iridescent blue, purple, and bronze
- Long, rounded tail
- © Tom Smith , NJ, Bernardsville, December 2007
Common Grackle
Immature
- Overall dull, dark brown
- Straight, pointed, and heavy dark bill
- Pale brown iris becoming yellow as bird approaches adulthood
- © Stylurus , MI, Dearborn, April 2008
Common Grackle
Adult male
- Pale yellow eye
- Straight, pointed, and heavy dark bill
- Iridescent blue, purple, and bronze
- Long, rounded tail
- © Matt MacGillivray , Ontario, Canada, May 2008
Common Grackle
Immature
- Heavy pointed bill
- Brown iris
- Long, rounded tail
- Dark brown overall
- © reemac640 , ME, August 2008
Common Grackle
Adult male
- Straight, pointed bill
- Iridescent blue, green, purple, and bronze
- Long, rounded tail
- Overall black plumage
- © The Nature Nook , NH, May 2008
Common Grackle
Adult males and female
- Female (front) browner and less iridescent than males
- © Jeff Schumann , NH, May 2008
Common Grackle
Flock
- Often congregate in large flocks
- © Robert Weir , May 2008
Common Grackle
Adult female
- Smaller, browner, and less iridescent than male
- Dark brown overall, often with darker hood
- Yellow eye
- © Darin Ziegler, CO, Colorado Springs, April 2009
Similar Species
Adult
- Shorter tail (tail and wings similar in length)
- Only slightly glossy, not iridescent
- Much larger
- © Kevin J. McGowan, Tompkins Co, NY, February 2009
Adult male
- Iridescent black body, usually more blue-green
- Larger, longer tail
- Very large, long bill
- © Byard Miller, AL, November 2007
Adult male Gulf Coast
- Gulf Coast populations have dark eye
- © catmca, Eau Gallie, FL, January 2009
Adult female
- Similar to female Common Grackle
- Rufous brown overall with dark wings and tail
- Paler throat
- © tsiya, FL, March 2008
Adult male
- Smaller size
- Shorter tail
- Smaller, thinner bill
- © Laura Erickson, Santa Barbara, CA, August 2005
Adult male
- Short tail, short bill
- Brown head and black body
- Dark eye
- © ashockenberry, Ontario, Canada, September 2008
Adult male
- Shorter tail
- Smaller, thinner bill
- Red and yellow shoulder patch (may be hidden)
- Dark eye
- © Laura Erickson, May 2005
Adult breeding
- Glossy black overall (may appear purple, green, or blue)
- Long, thin, yellowish bill
- Pink legs, dark eye
- Often with pale spots all over
- Short tail
- © Sam Wilson, Scottsdale, AZ, April 2008
Adult male
- Iridescent black body, usually more blue-purple
- Larger, longer tail
- Very large, long bill
- © Sam Wilson, Scottsdale, AZ, April 2008
Adult female
- Similar to female Common Grackle
- Dark brown overall, with paler brown breast and light throat
- © Mike Baird, bairdphotos.com, Morro Bay, CA, March 2008
Adult male
- Iridescent black body, usually more blue-purple
- Larger, longer tail
- Very large, long bill
- © Gerry Dewaghe, Del Rio, TX, April 2007