Common Grackle
Common GrackleCommon GrackleCommon GrackleCommon Grackle

Common Grackle

Quiscalus quiscula

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
20–30% · Possible
overall probability at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
1,573 Verified records at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
March Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

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 →

20–30% of wildlife watchers report a Common Grackle sighting in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, based on 1,573 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Red-winged Blackbird
LC

Red-winged Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Agelaius phoeniceus

20–30% · Possible
Brown-headed Cowbird
LC

Brown-headed Cowbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Molothrus ater

10–20% · With luck
Eastern Meadowlark
NT Endemic

Eastern Meadowlark

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sturnella magna

10–20% · With luck
Rusty Blackbird
VU

Rusty Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Euphagus carolinus

<5% · Rare
Orchard Oriole
LC Endemic

Orchard Oriole

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Icterus spurius

<5% · Rare
Baltimore Oriole
LC

Baltimore Oriole

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Icterus galbula

<5% · Rare
Bobolink
NT

Bobolink

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dolichonyx oryzivorus

<5% · Rare
Yellow-headed Blackbird
LC

Yellow-headed Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus

<5% · Rare
American Crow
LC

American Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus brachyrhynchos

70–80% · Very likely
Northern Cardinal
LC Endemic

Northern Cardinal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cardinalis cardinalis

70–80% · Very likely
Carolina Wren
LC

Carolina Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thryothorus ludovicianus

70–80% · Very likely
Carolina Chickadee
LC Endemic

Carolina Chickadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Poecile carolinensis

70–80% · Very likely

📅 Monthly Probability

10–20
Jan
20–30
Feb
30–40
Mar
20–30
Apr
30–40
May
20–30
Jun
20–30
Jul
10–20
Aug
5–10
Sep
<5
Oct
10–20
Nov
<5
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

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

# Park Country Probability
1 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
80–90%
2 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
40–50%
3 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
40–50%
4 Badlands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
40–50%
5 Congaree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
6 Voyageurs National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
7 Great Smoky Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
8 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
9 Riding Mountain National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
10–20%
10 Isle Royale National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
11 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
12 Cape Breton Highlands National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
10–20%
13 Elk Island National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
5–10%
14 Rocky Mountain National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
15 Gros Morne National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
5–10%
16 Banff National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
5–10%
17 Yellowstone National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
18 Redwood National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
19 Cumbres de Monterrey National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
20 Glacier National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
21 Great Bear Rainforest 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
22 Olympic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
23 Wood Buffalo National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
24 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
25 Grand Teton National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
26 Jasper National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
27 Big Bend National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Common Grackle in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

About 22% of wildlife watchers report a Common Grackle sighting in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, based on 1,573 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Common Grackle in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

March has the highest sighting rate for Common Grackle in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in our monthly data.

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