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Common Grackle

Quiscalus quiscula

Bird · family Icteridae · order Passeriformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Common Grackle
Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
45 states[3]
Oldest known wild bird
23 years[4]

The Common Grackle is a bird in the family Icteridae[5]. NatureServe ranks it Secure worldwide and in the United States, and it is not listed under the Endangered Species Act[2][6][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Common Grackle a global rank of G5 (Secure) and a US national rank of N5 (Secure)[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Near threatened[7]. The bird is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. It is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8]. Counts from the Breeding Bird Survey show a significant decrease in the population across North America between 1966 and 1989[9].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Near threatened
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8] Protected

Where Common Grackle lives

NatureServe lists the Common Grackle as native in 45 US states and territories[3]. These include Alabama, Texas, New York, Minnesota, Montana, Utah and Washington, along with the District of Columbia[3]. NatureServe also gives each state its own rank, and the ranks differ from state to state[10]. The park service records the bird in 171 park units[11].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: native, state rank S4N,S5BMEWisconsin: native, state rank S5BWIVermont: native, state rank S5BVTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S5BNHWashington: native, state rank SNAWAIdaho: native, state rank S5BIDMontana: native, state rank S5BMTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SNRBNDMinnesota: native, state rank SNRB,SNRNMNIllinois: native, state rank S5ILMichigan: native, state rank S5MINew York: native, state rank S5BNYMassachusetts: native, state rank S5MAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: native, state rank S5B,S5NWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S5BSDIowa: native, state rank S5B,S5NIAIndiana: native, state rank S4INOhio: native, state rank S5OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S5BPANew Jersey: native, state rank S5B,S5NNJConnecticut: native, state rank S5BCTRhode Island: native, state rank S5BRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: native, state rank S3BUTColorado: native, state rank S5B,S4NCONebraska: native, state rank S5NEMissouri: native, state rank SNRMOKentucky: native, state rank S5B,S4NKYWest Virginia: native, state rank S3N,S5BWVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S5MDDelaware: native, state rank S5DEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: native, state rank S5B,S5NNMKansas: native, state rank S5B,S4NKSArkansas: native, state rank S5ARTennessee: native, state rank S5TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S5B,S5NNCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S4SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S4N,S5BDCOklahoma: native, state rank SNROKLouisiana: native, state rank S4LAMississippi: native, state rank S5B,S5NMSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S5GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S5BTXFlorida: native, state rank S4FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[10].
Show state ranks (45 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
ArkansasS5Secure
ColoradoS5B,S4NSecure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
ConnecticutS5BSecure (breeding)
DelawareS5Secure
District of ColumbiaS4N,S5BApparently Secure (nonbreeding), Secure (breeding)
FloridaS4Apparently Secure
GeorgiaS5Secure
IdahoS5BSecure (breeding)
IllinoisS5Secure
IndianaS4Apparently Secure
IowaS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
KansasS5B,S4NSecure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
KentuckyS5B,S4NSecure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
LouisianaS4Apparently Secure
MaineS4N,S5BApparently Secure (nonbreeding), Secure (breeding)
MarylandS5Secure
MassachusettsS5Secure
MichiganS5Secure
MinnesotaSNRB,SNRNNot Ranked (breeding), Not Ranked (nonbreeding)
MississippiS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
MissouriSNRNot Ranked
MontanaS5BSecure (breeding)
NebraskaS5Secure
New HampshireS5BSecure (breeding)
New JerseyS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
New MexicoS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
New YorkS5BSecure (breeding)
North CarolinaS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
North DakotaSNRBNot Ranked (breeding)
OhioS5Secure
OklahomaSNRNot Ranked
PennsylvaniaS5BSecure (breeding)
Rhode IslandS5BSecure (breeding)
South CarolinaS4Apparently Secure
South DakotaS5BSecure (breeding)
TennesseeS5Secure
TexasS5BSecure (breeding)
UtahS3BVulnerable (breeding)
VermontS5BSecure (breeding)
VirginiaS5Secure
WashingtonSNANot Applicable
West VirginiaS3N,S5BVulnerable (nonbreeding), Secure (breeding)
WisconsinS5BSecure (breeding)
WyomingS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)

Habitat

NatureServe records many habitat types for this bird, including hardwood, conifer and mixed woodland, grassland, old fields, cropland and hedgerows, suburbs and orchards, several kinds of wetland, and riparian areas[12]. For breeding, it uses partly open places with scattered trees, forest edges, cities, suburbs and farms[13]. It nests in trees up to 18 m above ground, and also in shrubs, cavities and marsh plants[13]. In migration and winter it also uses open fields and cultivated land[13].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[12]

Size, diet and lifespan

Adults are about 32 cm (13 in) long and weigh about 127 g[14][15]. NatureServe describes the diet as insects and other invertebrates, grain, seeds and fruit, and sometimes small animals and bird eggs[16][17]. In North Dakota, insects led the diet in spring and grain led in late summer and early fall[16]. A clutch is 4 to 7 eggs, and the female incubates them for 12 to 14 days[18]. Young leave the nest at 10 to 17 days[18]. The oldest known wild bird in banding records was at least 23 years 1 months old[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[14] 32 cm (13 in)
Typical adult weight[15] 127 g (4.5 oz)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[19] 23.1 years (wild)
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[4] 23 years 1 months
Litter or clutch size[20] 5
Gestation or incubation[21] 14 days
Food habits[17] Carnivore, Invertivore, Granivore, Frugivore
Migration[22] non-migrant, local migrant, long-distance migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[23]

  • 40% seeds
  • 40% invertebrates
  • 10% warm-blooded vertebrates
  • 10% fish

When to look for it

The Common Grackle is active by day[24]. NatureServe lists its migration as non-migrant, local migrant or long-distance migrant, depending on the population[22]. Northern interior breeders make the longest trips, and the birds reach the northern US and western states from mid-March to early April[25]. Observation records on GBIF peak in April, May and June[26]. Those records show when people look and report, not how many birds there are[26].

January: 212,720 recordsJanFebruary: 431,836 recordsFebMarch: 1,051,043 recordsMarApril: 1,823,546 recordsAprMay: 2,526,020 recordsMayJune: 1,312,356 recordsJunJuly: 765,658 recordsJulAugust: 495,642 recordsAugSeptember: 385,969 recordsSepOctober: 412,933 recordsOctNovember: 242,285 recordsNovDecember: 170,827 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[26].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January212,720
February431,836
March1,051,043
April1,823,546
May2,526,020
June1,312,356
July765,658
August495,642
September385,969
October412,933
November242,285
December170,827

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Common Grackle as present in 171 park units[11]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 147 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: New York, Florida, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Ohio[27]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Common Grackle endangered?
It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) globally[2].
Where does the Common Grackle live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 45 US states and territories, from Alabama to Wyoming[3].
What does the Common Grackle eat?
It eats invertebrates, grain, seeds and fruit, and sometimes small vertebrates and bird eggs[16].
How big is a Common Grackle?
NatureServe records a typical length of 32 cm (13 in) and a typical weight of 127 g[14][15].
How long does a Common Grackle live?
The oldest known wild bird in banding records was at least 23 years 1 months old[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Common Grackle is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Common Grackle: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Common Grackle as native in 45 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oldest known wild Common Grackle from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 23 years 1 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  5. Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) is a bird in the family Icteridae, order Passeriformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Near threatened. NatureServe Explorer
  8. Common Grackle is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  9. NatureServe notes on trend for Common Grackle. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe state ranks for Common Grackle (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  11. NPSpecies park lists recording Common Grackle as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  12. Habitat types NatureServe records for Common Grackle: Woodland - hardwood, Woodland - conifer, Woodland - mixed, Grassland/herbaceous, Old field, Cropland/hedgerow, Suburban/orchard, Herbaceous wetland, Scrub-shrub wetland, Forested wetland, Riparian. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on habitat for Common Grackle. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 32 cm (13 in). NatureServe Explorer
  15. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 127 g (4.5 oz). NatureServe Explorer
  16. NatureServe notes on food for Common Grackle. NatureServe Explorer
  17. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore, Invertivore, Granivore, Frugivore. NatureServe Explorer
  18. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Common Grackle. NatureServe Explorer
  19. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 23.1 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  20. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 5. AnAge
  21. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 14 days. AnAge
  22. NatureServe migration category for Common Grackle: non-migrant, local migrant, long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  23. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 40% seeds, 40% invertebrates, 10% warm-blooded vertebrates, 10% fish. EltonTraits 1.0
  24. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  25. NatureServe notes on migration for Common Grackle. NatureServe Explorer
  26. GBIF observation records of Common Grackle in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  27. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Common Grackle: New York, Florida, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Ohio. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.