Great-tailed Grackle

Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) is in the New World Blackbirds and Orioles family (Icteridae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 86,192 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.

Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.

When to photograph Great-tailed Grackle: observations by month (U.S.)

About Great-tailed Grackle

The great-tailed grackle or Mexican grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) is a medium-sized, highly social passerine bird native to North and South America. A member of the family Icteridae, it is one of 10 extant species of grackle and is closely related to the boat-tailed grackle and the extinct slender-billed grackle. In the southern and southwestern United States, the grackle is sometimes referred to simply as a "blackbird" or (erroneously) a "crow" due to its glossy black plumage;From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.

Great-tailed Grackle by state

Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.

Related birds (New World Blackbirds and Orioles)

Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceus

Brown-headed CowbirdMolothrus ater

Common GrackleQuiscalus quiscula

Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbula

Brewer's BlackbirdEuphagus cyanocephalus

Boat-tailed GrackleQuiscalus major

Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglecta

Hooded OrioleIcterus cucullatus

Photography tips

• Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
• Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
• Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
• Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.

FAQ