great-tailed grackle
Quick Summary
The great-tailed grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) is a large bird known for its iridescent black plumage and exceptionally long, keel-shaped tail, particularly in males. These birds belong to the Icteridae family and are found from the southwestern United States down to northern South America.12
Grackles are omnivorous, using their stout, pointed bills to eat insects, small vertebrates like fish and baby birds, and to crack seeds. They often nest in colonies and, after breeding, form large flocks that can sometimes damage crops. The great-tailed grackle has expanded its range northward with the growth of agriculture and human settlements.12
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