Common Grackle

Beak

Common grackles have long and very strong black bills made for eating a large variety of food types.

Appearance

Common grackles resemble smaller, longer-tailed crows. When seen up close, these are extremely beautiful "blackbirds" with shiny, purplish, iridescent feathers. The bright yellow eye stands out against the dark black and purple head colouring.

Food

Grackles can be attracted with a variety of seeds and suet. They will eat black oil sunflower seeds, corn, millet, grapes, leftovers, cooked pasta, suet, and wheat. They typically feed on the ground in small groups, digging for grubs and finding seeds.

Habitat

Grackles can be found in suburbs, farmland and marshy mixed woodlands. They typically nest in small colonies in spruces about 20-30 feet off the ground. In spring, males puff themselves out to appear twice their size to impress females and fend off the competition.