Common Grackles Display Striking Array of Colors

Common Grackle ©Nannette Richford

Today's image is an artistic rendition of a common grackle seen outside my window. This beautiful bird gets a bad reputation for its less than melodic call and its aggressive behavior at bird feeders. At a distance, it appears black or dark brown with a purple head, but it really is quite striking when viewed up close. The iridescent feathers on males range from green and blue to purple, but can only be observed when they are in the light. Females lack the showy colors and are typically black or brown with a purple neck and head.

These noisy birds often flock to feeders in the spring and can be seen flocking in trees, generally early in the morning. Although they are not a song bird and don't typically sing a soothing song, they reportedly have the ability to mimic the calls of other birds.

When grackles descend on your feeders or take up residence in nearby trees, rest assured that spring is in the air.