Joey Saves The Day!: Facts about Grackles

Grackle Facts

Chirp! Chirp! Have you heard about the Grackles? Grackles are shiny-looking blackbirds. 11 species of grackles live in different parts of the world. This year, we were blessed to have not one but three grackle nests in a tree in our front yard. In one of the nests, there were three baby grackles. We watched them from our kitchen window, where they were being fed by adult birds. When the baby birds were hungry, they would chirp very loudly. One day, we noticed the baby birds trying to hop out of their nest. A few days later, we spotted them perching on branches of the tree near their nest. The next day, one of the baby grackles was on the ground hopping around. Two adult grackles were close by watching. We got to experience a baby grackle learning to fly. It was amazing.

The baby grackle hopped over to the bushes in our front yard and got behind them. It would run back and forth behind the bushes while trying to fly. It would lift up off the ground. Then, it would drop down, run, and fly a little. It flew up on our front porch step and stood there looking around. Then it flew onto the ground and ran/hopped towards our fence. On top of the rail sat two adult grackles watching the baby grackle trying to learn to fly. One of the adult grackles flew down to the ground and tried to show the baby grackle how to get under the fence. The adult grackle walked under the wall twice, showing the baby how to do it. It took two tries for the baby grackle to get under our fence. While in the backyard, the baby grackle reminded me of a toddler running back and forth, learning to walk. The baby grackle learned to fly within three days, and so did the other two. It was amazing watching them and seeing them learn to fly. The most impressive part of this experience was how the adult grackles looked after their babies! If you ever see a fledgling on the ground learning to fly, don’t approach it. It is not in trouble. It is learning to fly.

Baby grackle under the tree!

Baby grackle behind the bushes and flower pots.

Baby Grackle learning to fly!

Are there grackles in the state where you reside?

Facts about grackles:

1. A group of grackles is called a flock or plague. Grackles are social and prefer to live and travel in groups. Some grackles migrate during the winter months, and some do not.

2. Grackles are omnivores. Omnivores means that they eat plants and meat sources for food. Some food grackles eat are berries, seeds, fruits, insects, frogs, mice, and eggs.

3. A baby grackle is referred to as a chick, nestling, or a fledgling.

4. Some grackles have been known to live about 22 years in the wild.

5. Grackles can weigh as much as 7 ounces, depending on the type. Some grackles can be as tall as 18 inches.

6. A female grackle can lay up to seven eggs. Could you imagine 7 little chirping grackles?

7. Here is a list of the eleven (11) types of grackles in alphabetical order: