Common Grackle
Quiscalus quiscula
Silhouette: Ferran Sayol · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyIcteridae (New World Blackbirds and Orioles)
- GenusQuiscalus (Typical Grackles)
- SpeciesQuiscalus quiscula (Common Grackle)
About the Common Grackle
The common grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) is an icterid bird found in large numbers through much of North America. It was first described in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus and has three officially recognized subspecies. Adult common grackles have a long and dark bill, pale yellow eyes, and a long tail. Adults often have a bluish iridescent appearance on their head, this feature being more pronounced on males. Common grackles can be found widely across North America east of the Rocky Mountains and are highly adaptable to their environment.
The common grackle was first described in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus in the tenth edition of Systema Naturae, as Gracula quiscula. It was assigned to the genus Quiscalus by French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot in his 1816 Dictionnaire d'histoire naturelle.
Three subspecies are recognized: the Florida grackle (Q. q. quiscula) (Linnaeus 1758), the nominate subspecies the purple grackle (Q. q. stonei) (Chapman, 1935) the bronzed grackle (Q. q. versicolor) (Vieillot, 1816) Adult common grackles measure from 28 to 34 cm (11 to 13 in) in length, span 36–46 cm (14–18 in) across the wings, and weigh 74–142 g (2.6–5.0 oz). Common grackles... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Common Grackle in Elk Island National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Elk Island National Park
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
Baltimore Oriole
Icterus galbula
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
Brewer's Blackbird
Euphagus cyanocephalus
Rusty Blackbird
Euphagus carolinus
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
Common Raven
Corvus corax
Black-capped Chickadee
Poecile atricapillus
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Point Pelee National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 2 | Everglades National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Big Cypress National Preserve | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Congaree National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Shenandoah National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Isle Royale National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | Acadia National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 8 | Cape Breton Highlands National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 9 | Gros Morne National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 10 | Saguaro National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 11 | Wood Buffalo National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 12 | Joshua Tree National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Common Grackle in Elk Island National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Common Grackle sighting in Elk Island National Park, based on 72 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Common Grackle in Elk Island National Park?
May has the highest sighting rate for Common Grackle in Elk Island National Park in our monthly data.