Common Grackle
Quiscalus quiscula
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyIcteridae (Ictèrids)
- GenusQuiscalus (Typical Grackles)
- SpeciesQuiscalus quiscula (Common Grackle)
The common grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) is an icterid bird found in large numbers through much of North America. It was first described in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus and has three officially recognized subspecies. Adult common grackles have a long and dark bill, pale yellow eyes, and a long tail. Adults often have a bluish iridescent appearance on their head, this feature being more pronounced on males. Common grackles can be found widely across North America east of the Rocky Mountains and are highly adaptable to their environment. Wikipedia →
5–10% of wildlife watchers report a Common Grackle sighting in Elk Island National Park, based on 52 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Elk Island National Park
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
Baltimore Oriole
Icterus galbula
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
Brewer's Blackbird
Euphagus cyanocephalus
Rusty Blackbird
Euphagus carolinus
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
Common Raven
Corvus corax
Black-capped Chickadee
Poecile atricapillus
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Common Grackle in Elk Island National Park?
About 9% of wildlife watchers report a Common Grackle sighting in Elk Island National Park, based on 52 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Common Grackle in Elk Island National Park?
May has the highest sighting rate for Common Grackle in Elk Island National Park in our monthly data.