How Do You Identify A Common Grackle?
The common grackle is one of several birds that the uninitiated may describe as a blackbird or crow. However, this look-a-like bird has several characteristics that distinguish it from its similar cousins. Learn these traits to identify and take your bird-watching expertise to the next level. Notice the large, keel-shaped tail of the common grackle. This is different than the similar looking blackbird, which has a narrow, shorter tail. Estimate the size of the grackle you are viewing. The common grackle measures 10 to 12 inches in length, depending on the sex of the bird. The great-tailed grackle appears identical to the common grackle, except for its much larger size of 15 to 18 inches. Compare the plumage of the common grackle to that of the starling. Starlings have black feathers with white tips. Identify common grackles by the black feathers with a conspicuous metallic sheen in the sunlight. Listen for the loud raspy call of the common grackle. The word grackle is derived from the
