Grackles are a type of blackbird that are found throughout North America. They are medium-sized birds with shiny black feathers that often have a purple or blue iridescent sheen. Grackles are very social birds that travel and nest in large flocks. They are often considered pest birds due to their large flocks, loud calls, and aggressiveness around food sources.
What do grackles eat?
Grackles are omnivorous and eat a variety of foods including:
- Insects such as grasshoppers, beetles, caterpillars, ants, and worms
- Spiders
- Snails
- Small fish
- Frogs
- Salamanders
- Mice
- Eggs and nestlings of other birds
- Grains such as corn, wheat, oats, and rice
- Fruits including berries and citrus
- Nuts like acorns and peanuts
- Seeds
- Garbage
- Bird food
Their diverse diet allows them to adapt to many habitats from forests to prairies to suburban neighborhoods. They forage on the ground and eat a mix of plant and animal material.
Do grackles help control pests?
Yes, grackles are helpful at controlling many insect and snail/slug pests by preying on them. Some of the pests they help control include:
- Japanese beetles
- Grubs
- Caterpillars
- Ants
- Weevils
- Grasshoppers
- Garden snails and slugs
Their appetite for many agricultural and garden pests makes them beneficial to have around. Their large flocks can quickly decimate pest populations when they descend on yards and fields.
Do grackles damage gardens and crops?
Grackles do sometimes cause frustrations for gardeners and farmers when they damage crops and gardens looking for food. Some of the ways grackles can negatively impact yards and gardens include:
- Eating seedlings – grackles may pull up newly sprouting seeds and seedlings as they forage, damaging gardens.
- Eating ripening fruits/vegetables – grackles use their strong beaks to open and eat ripening produce like corn, beans, berries, etc.
- Raiding bird feeders – large flocks will quickly empty out bird feeders meant for smaller songbirds.
- Eating grains – grackles will eat grains like rice, wheat, and oats as they begin to ripen.
- Fouling areas – flocks produce a lot of feces and can cover yards, gardens, patios, etc.
While grackles eat many pests, their large appetite and flocking behavior can make them a nuisance to those trying to grow food or enjoy birdfeeders.
Do grackles cause other problems?
In addition to damaging gardens, grackles can cause other frustrations with their behaviors:
- Aggressive behavior – grackles are bold birds that may swoop at people or pets that get too close to their nest.
- Noise – grackles are loud birds with a variety of squeaks, squawks, and pops in their vocalizations.
- Messy nests – their large nests are made of mud and sticks and can be an eyesore on homes, sheds, or trees.
- Predation – grackles may prey on the eggs and nestlings of smaller songbirds.
Their boisterous nature and confrontational behavior are why they are considered a nuisance by many people.
How can I discourage grackles?
Here are some methods to try to discourage grackles from becoming a problem:
- Use deterrents like noisemakers, rubber snakes, and water sprayers when they appear.
- Cover seedlings and ripening fruits/vegetables with protective netting.
- Use tall fencing and shrubs to block access to gardens and crops.
- Stop feeding birds for several weeks to disperse grackle flocks seeking an easy meal.
- Remove preferred food sources and nesting sites like dense shrubs.
- Eliminate sources of standing water which attracts them.
- Use scarecrows and reflective tape to frighten them away.
Persistence is needed when deterring grackles as they are stubborn birds. Excluding them from food sources and nesting areas is most effective.
Should I get rid of grackles?
Grackles are native birds and an important part of the ecosystem. Eliminating them completely is usually impossible and can lead to unintended consequences. Their absence could allow some insects and rodents to increase unchecked.
However, it is understandable that excessive damage or nuisance issues may require control methods. Start with least harmful methods like habitat modification before considering lethal control only as a last resort.
Removing just a few pest birds instead of the entire flock may be sufficient. Destroying nests and eggs will also limit population growth. Any control should focus on problem birds rather than widespread elimination of the species.
Conclusion
Grackles are a helpful predator of many lawn and garden pests but their appetites and behaviors can also create problems. Their large, social flocks and bold nature make them a nuisance, especially when they damage crops and compete for food sources.
Discouraging grackles involves making your yard less attractive by limiting access to food, water, and nesting areas. This may reduce flock size over time and minimize problems they cause without necessitating removal of the entire population. Exclusion and targeted control of just nuisance birds are more balanced approaches than widespread lethal control.