Grackles and crows are both black, noisy birds found throughout North America, so it’s understandable that people sometimes confuse them. While they share some similarities, grackles and crows are different species with distinct appearances, behaviors, habitats, and diets. By learning more about each bird, you can easily tell them apart.
Quick answers
– Grackles and crows are not the same species. Grackles belong to the Icteridae family while crows belong to the Corvidae family.
– There are several different species of grackle, including the common grackle, boat-tailed grackle, great-tailed grackle, and others. The American crow and northwestern crow are the most common crow species.
– Grackles tend to be smaller and slimmer than crows. Their tails are also longer and more keel-shaped.
– Crows are all black, while grackles have iridescent feathers that shine purple, blue, or green in the light.
– Grackles have yellow eyes, while crows have black eyes.
– Grackles frequent open fields, marshes, and lakesides. Crows adapt to a wider variety of habitats including forests, beaches, fields, cities, and suburbs.
– The grackle’s diet consists mainly of insects, grains, seeds, fruit, eggs, and small fish. Crows are omnivorous but eat more carrion, nuts, clams, and human garbage.
– Crows are smarter and more social than grackles. They use tools, solve problems, and develop family relationships.
– Grackle flocks are looser and more fluid than crow congregations which show stronger bonds.
Taxonomy
Grackles and crows are not closely related despite some similar appearances. They belong to different taxonomic families.
Grackles are members of the Icteridae family which includes blackbirds, orioles, cowbirds, and others. There are several species of grackle found in North America:
– Common grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)
– Boat-tailed grackle (Quiscalus major)
– Great-tailed grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)
– Greater Antillean grackle (Quiscalus niger)
Crows belong to the Corvidae family which includes ravens, jays, magpies, and nutcrackers. The most common crows in North America are:
– American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
– Northwestern crow (Corvus caurinus)
– Fish crow (Corvus ossifragus)
So while grackles and crows share the same black feather coloring, they are genetically and evolutionary quite distinct. This means they have different traits and behaviors as species.
Size and Shape
One way to tell grackles and crows apart is by carefully observing their size and proportions.
Grackles tend to be slimmer and smaller-bodied than crows, with longer tails that are keel-shaped rather than rounded. The most common grackle species have these typical measurements:
| Species | Length | Wingspan | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common grackle | 11-13 inches | 14-17 inches | 2.6-5 oz |
| Boat-tailed grackle | 13.5-15.5 inches | 16.5-21 inches | 3-6 oz |
| Great-tailed grackle | 15-20 inches | 20-24 inches | 6-11 oz |
Crows have stockier, larger bodies and wingspans. Their tail shape is fan-like rather than long and tapered. Common measurements are:
| Species | Length | Wingspan | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Crow | 15-20 inches | 33-39 inches | 11-21 oz |
| Northwestern Crow | 15-20 inches | 32-40 inches | 12-25 oz |
| Fish Crow | 16-19 inches | 33-38 inches | 11-18 oz |
So if you spot a large, stocky black bird with a fan-shaped tail, it’s likely a crow. A smaller, slender black bird with a long, pointed tail is probably a grackle.
Color Patterns
Another distinguishing feature between grackles and crows is their feather coloring.
Crows appear jet black from head to toe. Their feathers have a cool, dark bluish tone when viewed up close in bright light.
Grackle plumage is much more iridescent. Although they look black at first glance, you’ll notice dazzling purples, bronzes, and greens shimmering off a grackle’s wings, head, and back if sunlight hits them just right. This rainbow sheen is a sure way to identify a grackle.
Facial Features
The faces of grackles and crows offer more visual clues to tell them apart:
Eyes: Grackles have bright yellow eyes with black pupils. Crows have darker eyes that appear black or dark brown.
Beak: A grackle’s beak is long, pointed, and dagger-like. A crow’s beak is short, thick, and curved downward.
So if you see a black bird with yellow eyes and a dagger beak, it’s a grackle. Black eyes and a short curved beak indicate a crow.
Habitat and Range
Grackles and crows frequent different natural habitats based on their behaviors and needs. Knowing where to spot each species can help you distinguish them.
Grackles prefer open areas near water like marshes, lakes, rivers, and estuaries. They build nests low in trees and shrubs bordering water bodies. Some common grackle habitats include:
– Freshwater marshes
– Coastal salt marshes
– Lakeshores
– Riverbanks
– Bayous
– Harbor shores
Crows adapt well to a variety of settings, both natural and human-made. Look for them in both open and forested areas including:
– Treelined meadows
– Country farmlands
– Coastlines
– Mountain forests
– City parks
– Suburban neighborhoods
So if you see lots of black birds along shorelines, marshes, or wetlands, they’re likely grackles. Crows will occupy both rural wilderness and urban spots.
The American crow’s habitat range extends across all of North America. Meanwhile, common and boat-tailed grackles mainly occupy the eastern half of the continent. So if you spot a black bird west of Texas, it’s almost certainly a crow.
Migration and Flocks
The seasonal movements of grackles and crows also differ in some key ways:
– Common grackles migrate south for winter and gather in enormous mixed flocks of up to 1 million birds. Their flights are typically at night.
– Boat-tailed and great-tailed grackles are largely non-migratory and remain year-round in the south. They form massive roosts with thousands of birds.
– Most American crows and fish crows do not migrate and may congregate in winter night roosts up to 2 million strong. However, some do migrate from Canada down through the U.S.
– Northwestern crows migrate in flocks from inland wintering grounds out to the Pacific Coast for breeding season.
So if you see an enormous flock of black birds migrating or roosting in early spring or late fall, listen for the raspy chattering call of grackles. Smaller murder of crows may gather any time of year.
Vocalizations
The jarring, metallic cries of grackles sound very different from the deep, hoarse caws of crows. Learning their distinct calls is a reliable way to identify them.
Grackle sounds are notoriously loud, grating, and harsh. Their typical vocalizations include:
– Squeaky gate noises
– Rattles
– Clicks
– Pops
– Twangy metallic chirps
– Harsh, sputtering trills
Here are examples of grackle calls:
[embedded grackle call audio file]
Crow calls are lower-pitched and hoarser, usually in short bursts. Common sounds include:
– Loud caws
– Rhythmic caws
– Rattles
– Coos
– Short clicks and pops
Listen to some typical crow vocalizations:
[embedded crow call audio file]
So if you hear a continuous, strident metallic racket interspersed with squeaks and rattles overhead, that’s the sound of grackles. The deeper cawing comes from crows.
Behavior and Intelligence
Grackles and crows have very different social behaviors and intelligence levels:
Grackles
– Tend to be noisy, aggressive, and competitive around food sources
– Forage in large mixed flocks with loose bonds
– Have smaller brains relative to body size
– Exhibit simple social hierarchies and communication
– Use basic tools like pieces of bark to access food
Crows
– Form close family units and congregate in structured crow communities over generations
– Have large brains for their size and advanced intelligence
– Are insightful problem solvers capable of inferential reasoning
– Use and modify tools like sticks and rocks to get food
– May play games and tricks on each other
So while grackles are clever in their own way, crows are clearly the Einsteins of the bird world when it comes to smarts. Their extraordinary intelligence sets them apart from all other songbirds.
Diet and Feeding
Grackles and crows have diverse diets as opportunistic omnivores, but they prioritize different food sources:
Grackles prefer:
– Insects like grasshoppers, beetles, and caterpillars
– Aquatic creatures such as crustaceans, fish, and frogs
– Grains and seeds from fields and grasses
– Fruit like wild berries and citrus
– Bird eggs and nestlings
– Small fish
– Leftover human food and trash
Crows eat:
– Carrion from dead animals, roadkill
– Insects and other invertebrates
– Reptiles and amphibians
– Grains, seeds, fruits, and nuts
– Bird eggs and chicks
– Human food waste, crops, and garbage
Their feeding habits also differ. Grackles forage more often in large noisy flocks on the ground in open spaces. Crows will scout and scavenge solo or in small groups with greater stealth.
So if you see a big flock noisily feasting on insects in a field, they’re likely grackles. But a few crows quietly picking at a roadkill carcass means you’re witnessing crow cunning.
Nesting and Reproduction
When it comes to breeding behaviors, grackles and crows have some notable contrasts:
Grackle nesting
– Build simple nests of mud, grass, and twigs in low trees near water
– Nest in dense colonies with many pairs together
– Lay 3-5 eggs at a time
– Can have 2-3 broods per mating season
– Young leave nest at 10-17 days old
Crow nesting
– Construct large, durable nests high up in treetops
– Nest in loose scatterings rather than dense colonies
– Lay 3-6 eggs at a time
– Have 1 brood per mating season
– Young fledge the nest at 35 days old
So grackles breed more often and quickly with minimal nests in low, crowded colonies. Crows take their time to raise one brood solidly in an intricate high treetop nest.
Interactions with Humans
Grackles and crows have a mixed relationship with humans who find their loud presence both intriguing and nuisance:
Grackles
– Draw birdwatchers to wetlands but can damage crops with large flocks
– Impress with huge migrating flocks numbering millions
– Sometimes considered a pest for stealing fruit and raiding bird feeders
– Known to spread parasites and bacterial infections around feeders and farms
Crows
– Fascinate many with their intelligence yet annoy some with noise
– Serve an important role cleaning up carrion but ravage crops and gardens
– Considered harbingers of death in some myths but symbols of wisdom to others
– May become aggressive during nesting and attack people
– Known for spreading trash when scavenging in urban areas
So grackles and crows both have a controversial public image. But most experts argue their beneficial roles outweigh problems. Their remarkable survival skills in both wilderness and civilization are a testament to their complex behaviors.
Conclusion
At first glance, common grackles and American crows appear quite similar as black noisy birds. But important differences set them apart as species. Once you learn their distinguishing traits, grackles and crows are easy to identify correctly:
– Grackles are smaller and sleeker with long keel-shaped tails and yellow eyes. They prefer open marshes and fields. Flocks chatter metallically but have loose bonds.
– Crows are larger and stockier with short rounded tails and black eyes. They adapt anywhere and gather in structured family units called murders. Their hoarse caws signal advanced intelligence.
So next time you come across a common black bird, look and listen closely for key cues. The flashy iridescence, dagger beak, and raspy shriek means you’re in the company of a grackle. But if you notice formidable size, curved bill, and hoarse cawing, then a remarkable crow crosses your path.
