Greater Antillean Grackle or Great-Tailed Grackle?

General appearance

The great-tailed grackle is a large, lanky bird with long legs and an iridescent plumage. It has a distinct wedge-shaped tail and a strong, pointed bill. Its coloration ranges from glossy black to purplish-blue in good light, and it often emits loud, varied calls that echo in open areas.

Male vs female

Males are larger with predominantly glossy black feathers and striking iridescence, mainly purplish-blue on the head and body. Females are smaller, predominantly brown, with lighter underparts and less iridescence. Males have longer tails which contribute to their distinctive silhouette.

Juvenile

Juvenile great-tailed grackles resemble adult females but have a more muted coloration and slightly shorter tails. As they mature, their plumage transitions to match their respective adult coloration, either glossy black for males or dark brown for females.

Primary habitat

Great-tailed grackles largely occupy open and semi-open terrains such as groves, thickets, farms, towns, and city parks. They are found throughout different lowland landscapes.

Additional range

This species adapts to a variety of environments from farmland, marshes, irrigated fields to suburban lawns and brushy areas. They avoid true deserts, but can thrive near water sources in dry regions.

Natural diet

The great-tailed grackle is omnivorous and has an extremely varied natural diet. It feeds on many insects and also consumes spiders, millipedes, snails, crayfish, tadpoles, small fish, lizards, and eggs and nestlings of other birds. Occasionally, it may also eat adult birds. In addition to animal matter, the grackle's diet includes a wide variety of seeds, waste grain, berries, fruits, and nuts.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, great-tailed grackles are likely to consume seeds and grains, which are common provisions. They may also eat peanuts if available, taking advantage of the food offered by humans.