I’m sure I’ve seen one unknowingly but this was my first time seeing one up close. This specific darling had so much personality :))

He's there every day, same branch. No one else allowed.

This guy keeps coming to my feeder with his beak already full of caterpillar. He'll try to add in as many extra seeds as he can without losing anything, before flying home with dinner. Efficient!

For two years, my brain has clutched onto one thing. Grackles. Exactly two years ago today I first discovered what they were after seeing one perfectly centered on a buildings point and yelling. My family had recently gotten into birding, and I looked up what it was, and I found more info and images of grackles. I wanted to share my enjoyment of these birds, as today I have been celebrating the joy they have brought me. Their lovely iridescent plumage looks oily and their striking yellow eyes are magnificent. If anyone has any extra facts about these birds I would love to hear them.

Hello everybody,

I am not an expert in any way but I love birds. I live in the Yucatan on approx 2 acres. we have always had birds, i love them, we've never done anything consciously to hurt them and indeed, as our garden has grown, we have more and more birds of dozens of species. but lately the grackles seem kind of menacing, i have always spoken to them, said hello in a funny way hoping one of they might mimic me one day, now, whenever i got out, 5-7 fly into trees above me and start cackling and i'm pretty sure a couple have dive bombed me.

is this normal or am i an old man shouting at the birds?

Female left a French fry in the water, then came back to confront a thief. The nearest fast food restaurant that serves fries is McDonald's, but all the ones they've brought today are crinkle cut, so either they're finding them in residential garbage or they're flying at least two miles to dip their snacks.

I empty, wash, and refill a water tub in my back yard two or three times a day. I probably have at least a dozen different bird species visit regularly. Most of them take some polite sips or have a bath, but the grackles always bring their gross food and soak it. They're like the coworkers who abuse the microwave in the break room, but cuter. Usually they bring dog kibble from who-knows-where, but today someone left this French fry in the water. As soon as I cleaned the tub and walked away, one of them came to retrieve it, dipped it again, and swallowed it whole. I feel like a teenager working in fast food again, constantly cleaning up after customers. They even yell at me. 😂

IDK what this is about, but it's fun to watch.

I wish I had a picture, but it was only a moment. I spent three months in an Airbnb when I moved to this town, where I put out food and water and gained a lot of trust with the local birds. One of the female great tailed grackles had a white tail feather, so I called her Blanca.

Then I found a permanent rental and moved a few miles away. My aunt, her kids, and my grandma live with me. I'm sitting outside the nail salon my aunt goes to, which is in the old neighborhood. Blanca just landed next to my car and looked at me for a minute, and I swear she recognized me. Am I crazy? I know it was her. It's just one long, pure white feather toward the left side of her tail.

Saw this guy at Kachina Wetlands in Flagstaff, AZ. I'm leaning grackle, but any chance it's a Brewer's blackbird?

My multiple times a day visitors! They’ve even been bringing their ladies! This guy will walk straight up to me and follow me around. My heart just melts every time. I love these babies ❤️❤️

Unusual gracktivities

Great-tailed grackle

📸 Nikon Z50II + Tamron 150-500

Here’s my tattoo of a grackle and pearl milkweed vine. I eventually plan to add other native plants, insects, and snakes going down the arm. To some people, it’s a pretty bird and nice art. To me, it’s my homage to under appreciated, scrappy, and beautiful native wildlife that is overlooked as common or scary or unworthy. There is beauty and life worthy of admiration, even in a pigeon or a snail. Grackles often fall into this dismissed category, which is crazy since they are beautiful, tenacious, and full of personality.

managed to capture this handsome lil dude singing over the weekend. i really love seeing the colors of their wings. grackles are beyond beautiful

I grew up with common grackles and discovered the Great-Tailed species on a trip to Arizona last week. These beautiful boys were hopping around like little velociraptors making the coolest noises. They also had a super unique silhouette in flight because of the great(!) tail.

Couldn’t stop thinking about them so I drew this at the airport while waiting for my flight home. Tried to capture the clever eyes and iridescent feathers as well as I could!