| Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula (Linnaeus, 1758)) |
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Scientific name: Quiscalus quiscula (Linnaeus, 1758) Common name: Common Grackle French name: Quiscale bronzé Order: Passeriformes Family: Icteridae Size: Body size: 28 to 34 cm; Weight: 74 to 142 g; Wingspan: 36 to 46 cm; Habitat: Meadows, cultivated areas, parks and gardens and other open or semi-open areas. Food: Insects and invertebrates, but also small fishes, small crabs, small mammals and small birds, seeds in winter. Nesting: Females build a bulky nest often located in a conifer but sometimes nests of other species are reused. There is usually a clutch of 1 to 7 eggs in March-April. Migration: Partially migratory. Northern and eastern birds move 200-1000 km south in winter. Geographic area: North America (except the northernmost regions) east of the Rocky Mountains. |
The Common Grackle is a dark-coloured bird with a long, black, slightly down-curved bill ending with a small hook, pale yellow eyes and a long tail. Males have an iridescent black plumage with purple blue on the head and chest and copper bronze on the rest of the body. Females are smaller and duller in colour. Juveniles are a uniform dull brown colour. |
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Despite difficult light conditions and strong backlight, the iridescent plumage of the head is slightly visible on this photo. |
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I think the uniform dull brown colour here indicates a juvenile. |
André Bon December 2022