Grackle is the name of several species of blackbirds that live in North and South America. The best-known species, the common grackle, measures about 12 inches (30 centimeters) long. It is black all over, with yellow eyes. The male has a sheen of purple or blue-green on its head and neck. Common grackles are found east of the Rocky Mountains, from Canada to the Gulf Coast.
Two other widespread species are the boat-tailed grackle and the great-tailed grackle. In both species, the males grow about 16 inches (41 centimeters) long and are black with a purple or blue sheen. The females are brown and much smaller. The boat-tailed grackle lives along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and in Florida. The great-tailed grackle is found in the south-central and southwestern parts of the United States and in Mexico, Central America, and northern South America.
Loading the player...Common grackle
Grackles live in flocks. They build bulky nests of mud and grass. The female lays three to six eggs that are greenish- or bluish-white with dark spots.
