Common Grackle vs Rusty Blackbird

Common Grackle

Quiscalus quiscula

Also known as: Blackbird

How to recognise a common grackle?

General appearance

The common grackle is about the size of a crow, bearing a distinctive long tail with a crease down the middle. Coloring varies with two forms presented, namely, the 'Bronzed Grackle' and the 'Purple Grackle.' The former spots a bronzy body offset by a blue-black head while the latter shines with glosses of purple and green, offering less contrast.

Male vs female

Physical variations between the sexes are not explicitly stated. However, based on the Bronzed and Purple forms noted, it could be inferred that some slight difference in color intensity and gloss may exist.

Juvenile

Juvenile grackles present dark eyes in contrast to the whitish-yellow eye color observed in adults. Molting, a period prevalent in late summer, results in these younger birds having short or fragmented tails.

Size

11.0 - 13.4 in/2.6 - 5.0 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

Common grackles are often found in open or semi-open landscapes such as farmland, pastures, suburban lawns and towns. They tend to nest and roost in places with dense coniferous trees near open areas.

Additional range

Beyond typical rural and suburban settings, these birds can also be found foraging in cattle feedlots and marshes, and residing on the edges of woodlands and in parks.

Range Map

What do common grackles like to eat?

Natural diet

The common grackle is an omnivorous bird, feeding on a wide variety of items. Its natural diet includes insects like beetle grubs, grasshoppers, and caterpillars, as well as spiders, millipedes, and earthworms. It also consumes crayfish, minnows, frogs, lizards, eggs and young of other birds, and small rodents. In addition to animal prey, the grackle eats vegetable matter, which becomes more dominant in its diet during winter. This includes berries, seeds, waste grain, and acorns.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, common grackles often consume seeds such as sunflower seeds and cracked corn. They are known to be aggressive at feeders and may also eat suet and peanuts, taking advantage of the variety of offerings typically available at these feeding stations.

What does a common grackle sound like?

The common grackle frequently produces a clucking sound. Its signature vocalization is a high-pitched rising screech reminiscent of a rusty hinge, a memorable, abrasive sound. The grackle's call varieties also include buzzes and whistles, creating a diverse repertoire of sounds in communication or territorial displays. Their gazes may accompany their unique calls. Despite their unique blend of noises, their vocalizations generally have harsh, grating qualities.

Call

Audio by Jonathon Jongsma

/ CC BY-SA 3.0

Call

Audio by Paul Marvin

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Call

Audio by Jonathon Jongsma

/ CC BY-SA 3.0

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Rusty Blackbird

Euphagus carolinus

How to recognise a rusty blackbird?

General appearance

Rusty Blackbirds are medium-sized blackbirds with striking seasonal changes in plumage. In winter, they exhibit a distinctive rusty-edged appearance with rusty or rufous edges to their dark feathers, and pale yellow eyes. In summer, their feathers become mostly black or dark brown, losing the rusty edges. They have slender, slightly curved bills and relatively long tails, which are typical traits of blackbirds.

Male vs female

Males in breeding plumage are glossy black with greenish or bluish iridescence, whereas females are more subdued with dark gray or brownish plumage. During the non-breeding season, both sexes look similar with rust-colored feather edges; however, males often display richer, darker hues than females, who maintain a slightly browner overall appearance.

Juvenile

Juvenile Rusty Blackbirds have a more uniformly brown coloration compared to adults, lacking the glossy adult sheen. They are primarily a dull brown with streaked underparts and dark eyes, distinguishing them from adults whose eyes are pale yellow. As they mature, juveniles gradually acquire the adult plumage patterns and eye color.

Size

8.3 - 9.8 in/1.6 - 2.8 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The rusty blackbird primarily prefers wet northern coniferous forests with many lakes and bogs, and muskeg regions, particularly during breeding season.

Additional range

In migration and winter, it frequents areas with trees near water, such as wooded swamps and river groves. Unexpectedly, it can also be found foraging in open fields and cattle feedlots alongside other blackbirds.

Range Map

What do rusty blackbirds like to eat?

Natural diet

The rusty blackbird primarily consumes insects and seeds. Its diet mainly includes insects like aquatic caddisflies, mayflies, dragonflies, and water beetles, as well as land insects such as grasshoppers. Additionally, it eats snails, crustaceans, small fish, and small salamanders. It also feeds on seeds and waste grain, particularly in winter months, and occasionally berries.

Bird feeders

Rusty blackbirds are not frequent visitors to bird feeders. When they do visit, they may eat seeds and grains found in common bird food mixes.

What does a rusty blackbird sound like?

The Rusty Blackbird produces distinctive vocalizations similar to the squeaks of a rusty gate. Its sharp call note, referred to as a "check", varies in pattern: sometimes falling, sometimes rising. The vocal types of this bird are diverse, encompassing a variety of sounds such as buzzes, chatters, chirps or chips, trills, and whistles. This range makes its calls and songs unique and easily recognizable.

Call

Audio by Richard E. Webster

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Song

Audio by Richard E. Webster

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

There's more to learn about Rusty Blackbird

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Common Grackle

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Rusty Blackbird

Common Grackle

Quiscalus quiscula

Also known as: Blackbird

General appearance

The common grackle is about the size of a crow, bearing a distinctive long tail with a crease down the middle. Coloring varies with two forms presented, namely, the 'Bronzed Grackle' and the 'Purple Grackle.' The former spots a bronzy body offset by a blue-black head while the latter shines with glosses of purple and green, offering less contrast.

Male vs female

Physical variations between the sexes are not explicitly stated. However, based on the Bronzed and Purple forms noted, it could be inferred that some slight difference in color intensity and gloss may exist.

Juvenile

Juvenile grackles present dark eyes in contrast to the whitish-yellow eye color observed in adults. Molting, a period prevalent in late summer, results in these younger birds having short or fragmented tails.

Size

11.0 - 13.4 in/2.6 - 5.0 oz

There's more to learn about Common Grackle

View full details

Rusty Blackbird

Euphagus carolinus

General appearance

Rusty Blackbirds are medium-sized blackbirds with striking seasonal changes in plumage. In winter, they exhibit a distinctive rusty-edged appearance with rusty or rufous edges to their dark feathers, and pale yellow eyes. In summer, their feathers become mostly black or dark brown, losing the rusty edges. They have slender, slightly curved bills and relatively long tails, which are typical traits of blackbirds.

Male vs female

Males in breeding plumage are glossy black with greenish or bluish iridescence, whereas females are more subdued with dark gray or brownish plumage. During the non-breeding season, both sexes look similar with rust-colored feather edges; however, males often display richer, darker hues than females, who maintain a slightly browner overall appearance.

Juvenile

Juvenile Rusty Blackbirds have a more uniformly brown coloration compared to adults, lacking the glossy adult sheen. They are primarily a dull brown with streaked underparts and dark eyes, distinguishing them from adults whose eyes are pale yellow. As they mature, juveniles gradually acquire the adult plumage patterns and eye color.

Size

8.3 - 9.8 in/1.6 - 2.8 oz

There's more to learn about Rusty Blackbird

View full details

How to tell the Common Grackle from the Rusty Blackbird

Visual differences

The Common Grackle (11-13 inches, 2.6-5 oz) is larger than the Rusty Blackbird (8.3-9.8 inches, 1.6-2.8 oz). Grackles exhibit iridescent plumage; males show either bronzed bodies or purple and green glosses, with distinctive long tails. Rusty Blackbirds have slender, slightly curved bills, long tails, and seasonal plumage with rusty edges in winter and glossy black or dark brown in summer. Both have pale eyes, but juvenile grackles have dark eyes. Grackles resemble small crows with longer tails, whereas Rusty Blackbirds have a browner appearance overall, especially in females.

Key differences and behavior

Common Grackles and Rusty Blackbirds exhibit notable behavioral and ecological differences. Common Grackles are omnivorous and frequently forage in diverse habitats like farmlands and suburbs, often displaying aggressive behavior at feeders and engaging in unique "anting" practices for pest control. They tend to nest in colonies, usually in trees or shrubs near water. In contrast, Rusty Blackbirds are primarily insectivorous, preferring wet northern forests during breeding, and are less likely to visit bird feeders. They nest in isolation or loose colonies, often low above water. Rusty Blackbirds are also known for their stark seasonal plumage change and characteristic harsh song during mating. Both species share some habitat overlap in winter but exhibit differing levels of sociability and dietary focus.

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Common Grackle or Rusty Blackbird?

Common Grackle

How to recognise a common grackle?

Habitat

What do common grackles like to eat?

What does a common grackle sound like?

Call

Call

Call

There's more to learn about Common Grackle

Rusty Blackbird

How to recognise a rusty blackbird?

Habitat

What do rusty blackbirds like to eat?

What does a rusty blackbird sound like?

Call

Song

There's more to learn about Rusty Blackbird

Common Grackle

There's more to learn about Common Grackle

Rusty Blackbird

There's more to learn about Rusty Blackbird

How to tell the Common Grackle from the Rusty Blackbird

Visual differences

Key differences and behavior

Still not sure? Here are more lookalikes!

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Common Grackle

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Rusty Blackbird vs [Select a bird]

Rusty Blackbird

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