The Common Grackle, Quiscalus quiscula, is a strange bird whose characteristics feature more idiosyncrasies than commonalities with many surveyed tropical birds. The Grackle winters in the American Great Plains and eats a wider variety of food than most picky birds. The Great-tailed Grackle hangs around Monterey, California, and a more exotic tropical version of the Grackle habitates further South.

The long-necked Grackle looks alert and as though he was trying to see over his prey. The almost single shaded bird is cunningly disguised by nature and easily mistaken in the wild for shadowed treeline cover or canopy under leafing. The natty appearance of the Grackle is emphasized by the defined forelegs and thin claw/talon lower legs. The walking Grackle can have a pheasant-like appearance and a longish tail.

The Caribbean and Central American brand of Grackle are a horse of a different color. They grow brownish and turn a glossy blue black in maturity. The Carib Grackle looks like a mini crow perching in tree cover with a strikingly businesslike beak and an intelligent bright eye. Grackle colorations make them easy sightings for bird watchers and colorists.

A problem that is faced by many Grackles is related to their eating habits. Venezuela Grackles have been heavily fed parasites with their meals of shared worms and ticks from the scrubland wild, causing many problems for this particular bird. Other Grackle varieties in the region face the same issues.

The nesting habits of the Grackle may leave something to be desired. There is an issue with rejection of eggs in the Caribbean Grackle nest that scientists are studying. Other birds pass the parasites to the Grackle, who lays speckled eggs of unrecognizable color and pattern. The Grackle then abandons the eggs, which suffer and die. While not every egg per clutch will be lost, the ones that do not survive are ill afforded by the Grackle species as a whole.

In the Dutch Antilles region of Bonaire, the Carib Grackle species of Quiscalus lugubris is spotted often. The limited distribution of Grackles thereabouts in the southern Caribbean have a pleasant vocalization, unlike most other Northern Grackle species. The great-tailed Grackle has physical similarities to Southern brethren but inhabits the Northern American wilderness.

Please visit the Tropical Bird Forum for information about tropical birds.

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