The Great-tailed Grackle is a large, impressive blackbird with an extraordinarily long, V-shaped tail that accounts for half its body length in males. It has expanded dramatically northward into the US over the past century, aided by irrigated agriculture and urbanization. Evening roosts in towns and cities produce a cacophony of squeals, whistles, and rattles from thousands of birds.
Best time to see a Great-tailed Grackle
The best time to see a Great-tailed Grackle is January–June, when about 63% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 83,167 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Great-tailed Grackle? What bird is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Great-tailed Grackle sightings near you
Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.
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