Quiscalus major
The Boat-tailed Grackle, *Quiscalus major*, is a striking member of the blackbird family (Icteridae), renowned for its impressive size and distinctive, boat-shaped tail, especially prominent in males. Males are glossy iridescent black, exhibiting purple-blue to green sheens, and are considerably larger, reaching lengths of 30-43 cm (12-17 inches) with a wingspan of up to 50 cm (20 inches) and weighing 140-240 g (5-8.5 oz). Females, in stark contrast, are significantly smaller, typically 28-33...
Boat-tailed Grackles predominantly inhabit coastal wetlands, saltmarshes, estuaries, and agricultural fields near water, but have increasingly adapted to urban and suburban environments like parks, golf courses, and residential areas, typically at low elevations.
Boat-tailed Grackles are omnivorous opportunists, consuming a wide array of insects, spiders, crustaceans, small fish, frogs, lizards, eggs, nestlings, seeds, berries, and human food scraps, primarily foraging on the ground or by wading in shallow water.
Boat-tailed Grackles are diurnal and highly social, often forming large, noisy communal roosts in dense vegetation, especially in winter. Foraging is opportunistic and varied; they walk on the ground, wade in shallow water, and even snatch items while flying, demonstrating a remarkable adaptabili...
The Boat-tailed Grackle is largely a resident species, primarily found along the coastal plains of the southeastern United States and Cuba. Its main breeding range extends from southeastern New York, south along the Atlantic Coast through Florida, and west along the Gulf Coast to eastern Texas. S...
Least Concern
- The male Boat-tailed Grackle's tail can be nearly as long as its body, accounting for up to 40% of its total length, giving it its distinctive "boat-tailed" appearance. - Female Boat-tailed Grackles are notably smaller and have significantly duller, browner plumage compared to the iridescent bl...