Common Grackle

Quiscalus quiscula

An easy to spot bird due to their abundance, loud gravelly voice, and iridescent dark blue purple feathers. They often travel in large flocks, resting on high trees or looking for food on the ground. An omnivorous bird, with a diet that includes insects, frogs, nuts, berries and grains, they prefer dense wooded areas in combination with open space for nesting and foraging, including urban parks, agricultural fields and forest edges. Males puff up their bodies while spreading their tail feathers when singing, like a balloon inflating with song (Red-winged Blackbirds also exhibit this behavior.) In flight, their tail appears to be an elongated diamond or V-shape.

The fact that this bird is a common sight can be misleading, as they have faced dramatic decline in recent decades. The exact reason for this is still unclear, and scientists are actively tagging and tracking individual grackles in an effort to learn more. One possibility is that due to these birds being considered agricultural pests, it is possible chemicals and pesticides are harming them. But as they have a wide ranging diet, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact source. IUCN estimates nearly a 60% decline within the last 40 years.