Bird’s ID – Boat-tailed Grackle

The Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major) is a passerine bird of the family Icteridae found as a permanent resident on the coasts of the southeastern United States. It is found in coastal saltwater marshes, and, in Florida, also on inland waters. The nest is a well-concealed cup in trees or shrubs near water; three to five eggs are laid.

Young males are black but lack the adult’s iridescence. Immature females are duller versions of the adult female and have blotches or spots on the breast. The eye color of the boat-tailed grackle varies with range. Gulf Coast and inland birds have dark eyes, whereas Atlantic birds have pale eyes.^[Boat-tailed grackles have established significant populations in several United States Gulf Coast cities and towns where they can be found foraging in trash bins, dumpsters, and parking lots.

This bird’s song is a harsh jeeb, and it has a variety of typically grackle-like chatters and squeaks.

Photo Gallery

13 thoughts on “Bird’s ID – Boat-tailed Grackle”

Jet Eliot on August 8, 2018 at 8:44 am said:

Fantastic photos and info, HJ — great to see that magnificent tail.

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- H.J. for avian101 on August 8, 2018 at 4:44 pm said:
  
  Thank you my friend, welcome back! 🙂
  
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Indira on August 8, 2018 at 9:16 am said:

Great capture of the birds!!

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- H.J. for avian101 on August 8, 2018 at 4:48 pm said:
  
  Thanks Indira! 🙂
  
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susanpoozan on August 8, 2018 at 3:44 pm said:

Excellent pictures.

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- H.J. for avian101 on August 8, 2018 at 4:53 pm said:
  
  Thank you so much Susan! 🙂
  
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Lisa Rest on August 8, 2018 at 6:08 pm said:

Beautiful pictures, H.J.! I have never seen one. The other two species migrate, but not these.

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- H.J. for avian101 on August 8, 2018 at 6:54 pm said:
  
  Thank you very much Lisa. 🙂
  
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tanjabrittonwriter on August 9, 2018 at 12:00 am said:

I think the difference in size between the male and female is quite striking. We have Great-tailed, but no Boat-tailed Grackles in Colorado, and I will need to travel south to find one, one of these days!

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- H.J. for avian101 on August 9, 2018 at 12:54 pm said:
  
  Thank you for sharing Tanja! 🙂
  
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kkessler833 on August 9, 2018 at 8:50 pm said:

Great pictures!

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- H.J. for avian101 on August 9, 2018 at 9:13 pm said:
  
  Thank you Kendall! 🙂
  
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  - kkessler833 on August 10, 2018 at 9:35 am said:
    
    Welcome!