Carib Grackle or Boat-Tailed Grackle ?

There's more to learn about Carib Grackle

Boat-Tailed Grackle

Quiscalus major

How to recognise a boat-tailed grackle?

General appearance

Boat-tailed Grackles are about the size of a crow, possessing a black, brown, and tan color. They feature rounded wings and have a long, rounded, or wedge-shaped tail, resembling a Great-tailed Grackle but with a shorter tail and rounder head. Differences can be noted in their eye color depending on the geographical location. In Texas-Louisiana coast overlap region, Boat-tails have dark eyes.

Male vs female

Size variations exist between male and female boat-tailed grackles. Males measure between 41 and 43 cm, while females are notably smaller, ranging between 33 and 35 cm. As such, males are generally larger than the females.

Juvenile

Interestingly, young Boat-tails, much like their Great-tail counterparts, have dark eye color. It's important to note that Boat-tails found north from northeast Florida possess yellow eyes. This characteristic sets them apart and could be useful in identification.

Size

14.6 - 16.9 in/3.5 - 8.5 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The boat-tailed grackle primarily inhabits marshes, beaches, and areas close to the coast. They're also found near bodies of water like flooded fields and mudflats, and in drier fields in coastal regions.

Additional range

Unexpectedly, the grackle may occupy areas quite inland in Florida, though they're typically found near marshes and lakes.

Range Map

What do boat-tailed grackles like to eat?

Natural diet

The boat-tailed grackle is omnivorous, primarily sourcing its diet from water. It consumes a variety of aquatic food such as insects, snails, crayfish, crabs, mussels, shrimp, tadpoles, frogs, and small fish. On land, it eats insects like grasshoppers and caterpillars, and occasionally the eggs and young of other birds. Seasonally, seeds and grains also play a significant role in its diet.

Bird feeders

Common foods that boat-tailed grackles might consume at bird feeders include grain, seeds, and sometimes nuts or suet. They are also known to eat various types of birdseed blends offered at these feeders.

What does a boat-tailed grackle sound like?

The boat-tailed grackle vocalizes with a distinct, harsh "jeeb-jeeb-jeeb-jeeb" sound that differs from the characteristic whistles and clucks of the Great-tailed Grackle. Its calling pattern demonstrates a flat, falling sequence. The call can be categorized under four types: buzz, chatter, chirp/chip, and rattle, by each lending a unique nuance to the grackle's song.

Call

Audio by Paul Marvin

Song

Audio by Paul Marvin

Song

Audio by Paul Marvin

There's more to learn about Boat-Tailed Grackle

Carib Grackle

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Boat-Tailed Grackle

Carib Grackle

Quiscalus lugubris

General appearance

The Carib Grackle, a type of blackbird, is known for its glossy black plumage which emits a metallic sheen in sunlight. They typically measure 28cm in length and have long tails, large eyes that are strikingly yellow, and a sharp, pointed bill.

Male vs female

Males are noticeably larger and possess a longer and more curved tail, compared to females. Additionally, males exhibit a more vibrant iridescence compared to the females' brown-toned coloration. The difference in color intensity serves as a critical identifier in distinguishing between the sexes in the wild.

Juvenile

Juvenile Carib Grackles, particularly males, initially appear a duller black, taking a season to develop the glossy sheen of adults. They also posses brown eyes which transition to the adult's characteristic yellow with age. Observing these qualities allows for identification of juveniles in the wild.

Size

7.9 - 11.0 in/1.7 - 2.8 oz

There's more to learn about Carib Grackle

Boat-Tailed Grackle

Quiscalus major

General appearance

Boat-tailed Grackles are about the size of a crow, possessing a black, brown, and tan color. They feature rounded wings and have a long, rounded, or wedge-shaped tail, resembling a Great-tailed Grackle but with a shorter tail and rounder head. Differences can be noted in their eye color depending on the geographical location. In Texas-Louisiana coast overlap region, Boat-tails have dark eyes.

Male vs female

Size variations exist between male and female boat-tailed grackles. Males measure between 41 and 43 cm, while females are notably smaller, ranging between 33 and 35 cm. As such, males are generally larger than the females.

Juvenile

Interestingly, young Boat-tails, much like their Great-tail counterparts, have dark eye color. It's important to note that Boat-tails found north from northeast Florida possess yellow eyes. This characteristic sets them apart and could be useful in identification.

Size

14.6 - 16.9 in/3.5 - 8.5 oz

There's more to learn about Boat-Tailed Grackle

How to tell the Carib Grackle from the Boat-Tailed Grackle

Visual differences

The Carib Grackle is smaller (8-11 inches) with glossy black plumage and striking yellow eyes, while the larger Boat-Tailed Grackle (14-17 inches) features black, brown, and tan colors with long, rounded tails. Carib Grackles have a sharp, pointed bill, whereas Boat-Tailed Grackles, resembling crows, have dark eyes in Texas-Louisiana and yellow eyes north from northeast Florida. Males of both species exhibit iridescence and display more vibrant coloring, with Carib males having a more curved tail.

Key differences and behavior

Carib Grackles (8-11 in, 1.7-2.8 oz) are social, often forming groups to ward off predators, and are adaptable to urban environments in tropical climates. They court and nest in trees or shrubs at various human habitations. Their diet includes insects, fruits, and seeds. Conversely, Boat-Tailed Grackles (14.5-17 in, 3.5-8.5 oz) prefer coastal marshes and are crafty scavengers. Males defend territories, and their nests are frequently built in marshes or tall trees. They feed on aquatic prey like fish and frogs, besides seeds. Boat-Tailed Grackles rely primarily on females for incubation and chick-rearing. Both species are adaptable and visit bird feeders, but Carib Grackles are notably more daring in predator interactions.

Still not sure? Here are more lookalikes!

Carib Grackle vs Common Grackle

Carib Grackle

Common Grackle

Glossy and bold, with a sharp, raspy call.

Carib Grackle vs Greater Antillean Grackle

Carib Grackle

Greater Antillean Grackle

Carib Grackle vs Great-Tailed Grackle

Carib Grackle

Great-Tailed Grackle

Boat-Tailed Grackle vs Great-Tailed Grackle

Boat-Tailed Grackle

Great-Tailed Grackle

Boat-Tailed Grackle vs Common Grackle

Boat-Tailed Grackle

Common Grackle

Glossy and bold, with a sharp, raspy call.

Boat-Tailed Grackle vs Fish Crow

Boat-Tailed Grackle

Fish Crow