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Montana Animal Field Guide

Montana Field Guides

Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula

  • Common Grackle
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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.
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Citation for data on this website:
Common Grackle — Quiscalus quiscula.  Montana Field Guide.  Retrieved on February 9, 2010, from http://FieldGuide.mt.gov/detail_ABPBXB6070.aspx
 
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