Sort by Common Name
Sort by Scientific Name
Sort by Taxonomy
Search Field Guide
Advanced Search
Montana Field Guide
Home
Animals
Plants
Lichens
Help
Montana Field Guides
Home
-
Other Field Guides
Kingdom - Animals -
Animalia
Phylum - Vertebrates -
Craniata
Class - Birds -
Aves
Order - Songbirds -
Passeriformes
Family - Blackbirds -
Icteridae
Species - Common Grackle -
Quiscalus quiscula
Common Grackle -
Quiscalus quiscula
Global Rank
:
G5
State Rank
:
S5B
Agency Status
USFWS
:
none
USFS
:
none
BLM
:
none
CFWCS Tier
:
3
PIF
:
none
General Description
Male essentially black with glossy, iridescent sheen; head, neck, and breast are glossy purplish blue or bluish green. Female slightly smaller and less glossy. Glossy head contrasts with brassy bronze body.
General Distribution
Montana Range
Western Hemisphere Range
Summary of Observations Submitted for Montana
Number of Observations:
1512
(Click on the following maps and charts to see full sized version)
Map Help and Descriptions
Relative Density
Recency
Breeding
(direct evidence "B")
Breeding
(indirect evidence "b")
No evidence of Breeding
(transient "t")
Overwintering
(regular observations "W")
Overwintering
(at least one obs. "w")
(Records associated with a range of dates are excluded from time charts)
Migration
In the Bozeman area, normal migration periods are from April 24 to May 5 and September 15 to October 1.
Habitat
Species found in open woodland and forest edges; also swamps, marshes, and around human habitation.
Food Habits
Diet consists mainly of insects, seeds and invertebrates.
Reproductive Characteristics
One, occasionally two broods, consisting of four to five eggs per brood. Incubation period 13-14 days. Young able to fly 16-20 days after hatch.
Citations & Sources
Cummings, J. L., J. L. Guarino and C. E. Knittle. 1989. Chronology of blackbird damage to sunflowers. Wildl. Soc. Bull. 17:50-52.
Login
Logout
Name:
Password:
Send
Cancel
Animal Species of Concern Report
Plant Species of Concern Report
NH Tracker
Wetlands Information
Species of Concern
Endangered Species
Living With Wildlife
Want to put the field guide on your site?
There are currently 58 active users in the Montana Field Guide.