The common grackle is a very common bird found throughout much of North America. With its shiny black feathers and boisterous behavior, many people refer to the common grackle simply as a “blackbird.” However, while common grackles may resemble other black colored birds like European starlings or red-winged blackbirds, they are not actually classified as true blackbirds. So is a common grackle a blackbird? The answer is no, common grackles belong to a different family than true blackbirds.
What Is a Common Grackle?
The common grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) is a medium-sized songbird found widely across North America. They can be identified by their black plumage which has a distinctive bronze or purple sheen in good light. The eyes are pale yellow while the legs and bill are also black.
Some key facts about common grackles:
– Scientific name: Quiscalus quiscula
– Average length: 11-13 inches
– Average wingspan: 14-18 inches
– Average weight: 3.4-5.3 oz
Common grackles are omnivorous and opportunistic feeders. Their diet consists of insects, small fish, amphibians, grains, seeds, berries, acorns and the eggs and young of other birds. They have a distinctive walk with their tail held upright and will often forage on the ground in open habitats like lawns, parks and agricultural fields.
Common grackles are very social birds that nest colonially in dense thickets, marshes or woodlots. The nests are sturdy basket-like structures made of mud, grass, roots and other wetland vegetation. females usually lay between 4-7 pale blue or greenish eggs which hatch after 11-14 days. The young leave the nest after about 3 weeks.
These birds are resident year round over much of their range. However, those that breed in Canada and the northern U.S will migrate south for the winter. Common grackles are numerous and not considered threatened. Their populations increased greatly in the 20th century with the expansion of agriculture and urbanization which created favorable habitats for them.
What Is a True Blackbird?
Unlike common grackles, true blackbirds belong to the family Icteridae and are members of the genus Agelaius in North America. Some examples of true blackbirds found in North America include:
– Red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
– Tricolored blackbird (Agelaius tricolor)
– Yellow-headed blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)
Some key features all true blackbirds share include:
– Conical shaped bills adapted for eating seeds and grain
– Males have at least some red or yellow on the wings or head
– Narrower wings and more slender bodies than grackles
– Musical, warbling voices used to defend territories
– Social birds that nest in colonies
The males of true blackbirds are usually black or mostly black in color. Females are typically brown or streaked black and white. They eat mainly insects and seeds, often foraging in fields and marshes. Most blackbird species are associated with open, wet habitats.
While common grackles do share some behavioral traits with blackbirds, they differ in their physical appearance and genetics. Understanding taxonomy helps clarify they are separate species.
Taxonomy of Common Grackles vs. Blackbirds
Taxonomy is the branch of biology focused on classifying organisms and determining how they are related evolutionarily. Examining the taxonomy makes it clear common grackles are not classified in the same family as blackbirds:
Common Grackle Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Icteridae
Genus: Quiscalus
Species: Quiscalus quiscula
Red-winged Blackbird Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Icteridae
Genus: Agelaius
Species: Agelaius phoeniceus
While common grackles and blackbirds are both in the order Passeriformes, grackles are in the genus Quiscalus while true blackbirds are in the genus Agelaius.
This genus-level separation means grackles and blackbirds diverged from different evolutionary ancestors millions of years ago. Despite some superficial similarities, they are distinct species.
Differences in Appearance
In addition to genetic differences, common grackles differ from true blackbirds in physical appearance:
Common Grackle
– Larger body size (11-13 inches long)
– Longer, keel-shaped tail
– Purple-bronze iridescence to feathers
– Pale yellow eyes
– Females brown with dark streaks
Red-winged Blackbird
– Smaller body size (6-9 inches long)
– Shorter, rounded tail
– Pure black plumage with red and yellow shoulder patches
– Dark brown eyes
– Females brown and heavily streaked
The common grackle’s bigger body, iridescent feathers, tail shape, and eye color differ from the smaller red-winged blackbird with its red wing patches and dark brown eyes. Females of the two species also differ in plumage.
While juvenile birds can appear more similar, adult plumage and size makes identification easy. Remember that only true blackbirds display bright red or yellow markings.
Differences in Habitat and Range
Common grackles and blackbirds also differ in their preferred habitats and geographic breeding ranges across North America:
Common Grackle Habitat & Range
– Found across southern Canada and throughout the continental U.S.
– Occur in diverse habitats from thickets to marshes to city parks.
– Most abundant in agricultural areas and near human sites.
– Avoid dense forests and high mountain elevations.
Red-winged Blackbird Habitat & Range
– Occur across southern Canada and the central to northeastern U.S.
– Prefer wetland habitats like marshes, swamps, and wet meadows.
– Nest in cattails, rushes, grasses near water.
– Mostly avoid dry or urban areas.
– Migrates in winter to southern U.S. and Mexico.
The common grackle is more adaptable and likely to be seen near humans, while the red-winged blackbird sticks to wetter habitats. The red-wing is also migratory and doesn’t remain as far north in winter. Range maps reveal little overlap between these species.
Differences in Voice
The calls and songs of common grackles and blackbirds also sound very different:
Common Grackle Voice
– Wide variety of squeaks, chatters, croaks and shrill tones
– Harsh, grating quality lacking clear pitch
– Sounds include “chee-chee-chee” and metalic “chinking”
– No musical warbling
Red-winged Blackbird Voice
– Males sing a melodious “konk-ka-ree” song from perches
– Distinctive “oog-a-lee” call rings out in flight
– Female calls are hoarse, buzzing “chit” sounds
– Sings more complex and musical songs than grackle
The key difference is blackbirds produce clearer, more musical vocalizations using their syrinx. Grackles make harsher, more mechanical sounds lacking pitch. Listen for blackbirds “oo-ga-lee” calls over wetlands.
Differences in Behavior
There are some subtle differences between grackles and blackbirds in aspects of their behavior as well:
Common Grackle Behavior
– Walks on ground with puffed feathers and uptilted tail
– Soars on broad wings rather than flapping over distances
– Bathes by hopping into water and fluffing up feathers
– Roosts communally in trees at night, sometimes with other species
Red-winged Blackbird Behavior
– Hops along on open ground or clings to cattails over water
– Flaps on shorter wings between perches
– Bathes in “hover-dip” style, hovering over water
– Roosts in sheltered marshes at night, not mixed with other species
In flight, grackles soar steadily on broader wings compared to red-wings rapid wing flaps. Grackles often mix with other blackbirds or starlings when roosting, while red-wings stay separate. Subtle differences in how they move and interact are apparent.
Conclusion
While common grackles and blackbirds may appear somewhat similar at first glance, they are clearly differentiated species based on taxonomy, physical traits, habitat preferences, vocalizations and behavior. A common grackle’s larger size, iridescent sheen, harsher voice, adaptable habitat use and lack of migratory behavior distinguish it from smaller, musical, wetland-dwelling blackbirds. Remember only true blackbirds display bright red or yellow markings in their plumage. So in summary, no – the common grackle is not classified as a true blackbird. Knowing the distinguishing traits aids identification between these often confused birds.
References
[1] Cornell Lab of Ornithology – Common Grackle Identification https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Grackle/id
[2] Audubon Guide – Common Grackle https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/common-grackle
[3] The Cornell Lab of Ornithology – Red-winged Blackbird Identification https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-winged_Blackbird/id
[4] Animal Diversity Web – Common Grackle https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Quiscalus_quiscula/
[5] National Audubon Society – Blackbirds, Orioles, & Allies https://www.audubon.org/bird-family/blackbirds-orioles-allies
[6] The Sibley Guide to Birds – Comparison of Blackbirds and Grackles. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. 2016.