In Defense of the Grackle
In Defense of the Grackle – In North America three grackle species occur: Common, Great-tailed, and Boat-tailed. All are generally similar in appearance, with males glossy iridescent black and females brownish.
Grackles, it turns out, do more than weigh down power lines, steal tortilla chips off your dinner plate and squawk in really loud voices. The gleaming black birds actually play a beneficial role in our society. (Well, besides cleaning up those food crumbs you dropped on the sidewalk.)
Grackles eat insects, for one. And that includes those you might not like crawling on you, such as wasps and spiders, and ones that damage crops, including moths, grasshoppers and beetles.
Video Below or click this link; Grackles Puffy Up at the Table
I get why people don’t necessarily like them, but I think they’re fascinating. They do eat insects, so that means fewer insects that are eating plants — or us. There’s also the argument that they’re part of a web of life — they’re part of the system.”
Along with the most amazing colors when they are in the sunlight. Just some of the reasons to like these birds as I do.
In Defense of the Grackle
34 Replies to “In Defense of the Grackle”
I love the Grackles that come around, especially the way they shine in the sun 🤣😎🙃
Me to, quite colorful they are. 😊
Sometimes they look like they could glow in the dark. I like the idea they eat spiders – maybe I could invite them inside. I had a black spider in my bathroom yesterday and before I was totally awake.
Yes, they really have a purpose even though a few folks think they are a nuisance type bird. 🙂
Any bird that eats bugs is a friend of mine. 🙂
They seem to like it around here (south Florida). There are plenty
nearly year round and talk about competing for food! Yes there is
a little of that going on now and then.
Great post with excellent photos Sandra
Thank you very much Eddie. Yes I see them more when we are down south. Especially the boat tailed grackles. I see them in parking lots most often picking up scrap food. Have a wonderful weekend Eddie. 😊
A wonderful weekend sounds great Sandra.
Thank you, you have one too!
nice ! good read .
stay awesome and keep blogging
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Thank you very much Wayne, I appreciate that. Yes I save blogs in bookmarks as well. Easier to find them. 😊
The interaction with the squirrel cracked me up! Grackles are pretty birds (you captured them beautifully in your shots) but around here they are a terrible nuisance. They are protected, so all anyone can do is tolerate them and clean up their messes.
I know what you mean Kellye. Down south they were at the feeders first, but the blue Jay’s and the doves did a good job of making them get to the back of the line. Maybe their bright colors are a distraction for us to not notice their behaviors as much. 😊
the grackle defends its meal well.
Yes, usually the doves win, but he held his own.
I’ve always loved grackles and their astonishing iridescence. Years ago I wrote an article about them called The Uncommon Grackle. It was published in a nature journal called Snowy Egret. It was the last issue produced on a mimeograph machine before a university press took over.
These are spectacular pictures of the grackles!
Thank you very much Leah, the sun was just right on them.
How wonderful that your article was published. They are such unique birds and just so colorful. They have a purpose for sure.
Hard to argue with the beauty of their colour, but having been attacked by one, I still think they are bullies
So true, I have heard others say similar things. I have not experienced a bird attacking me except the goose of course. They are much faster on ground then one might think.😊
Oh yes, they are.
Grackles a silly birds. I rarely see them up here. but I have had interactions with them in other places.
They don’t have the prettiest song, more like they are just yelling at everyone. Bit they are so funny when they puff themselves up.
The ones I;ve seen were characters.
💙💙💙🐦⬛🐦⬛🙏💙💙💙
Thank you very much Francine 😊😊
💙💙💙🐦⬛🐦⬛🙏💙💙💙
I cackle over your Grackle muse! Excellent defense, counsellor! Innocent!!
Lol, another wonderful play on words. Very fitting. 😊😊
I like them. There is not a bird I don’t like. They all have at least one or two redeeming qualities.
I agree, always something I can find appealing about any bird. 😊
Love the blue sheen on the Grackle Sandra, it is a little like our Satin Bowerbird male.
They are just so pretty. Yet when they are in the shade, they look like a regular black bird.