Great-tailed Grackle

Overview

The Great-tailed Grackle is a large, highly adaptable blackbird whose range has expanded significantly across North America in recent decades. Males are notably larger than females and possess an extremely long, keeled tail, often longer than half the bird's total length.

• Range has expanded dramatically northward and eastward across the U.S. in recent decades
• Male's tail is proportionally longer than in most other North American blackbirds
• Highly adaptable to urban and agricultural environments

Feather Identification

Great-tailed Grackle feathers show pronounced differences between males and females.

• Tail feathers (male): Extremely long and keeled (folded into a V-shape), glossy black with blue-purple iridescence, often making up nearly half the bird's total length
• Body feathers (male): Glossy black overall with strong iridescent sheen
• Body feathers (female): Considerably smaller, grayish-brown above and paler below, without iridescence
• Eye: Pale yellow iris in adults, contrasting with the dark head feathering
• The combination of an extremely long, keeled tail and large overall size distinguishes male Great-tailed Grackle feathers from other North American blackbirds

Plumage, Sex & Age Differences

Adult males are glossy black with strong iridescence and an extremely long, keeled tail. Females are considerably smaller and plainer grayish-brown, without iridescence, and have a much shorter tail. Juveniles resemble females initially, with males developing the long tail and iridescent plumage over time. A complete molt occurs after breeding.

Habitat & Range

Great-tailed Grackles are found across a broad range of open habitats, including urban areas, agricultural fields, and wetlands, from the southern and central United States south through Mexico and Central America to parts of South America. Most populations are non-migratory or make only short-distance movements, and the species' range has expanded significantly in recent decades.

Behavior, Voice & Field Notes

Great-tailed Grackles are bold and adaptable, foraging on the ground for insects, seeds, and a wide variety of food scraps in both natural and urban settings. Males give loud, varied, and often mechanical-sounding calls, especially during breeding displays, when the tail is held in a pronounced keeled shape. The species nests in colonies, often in trees or dense vegetation near water or human development.