The boat-tailed grackle is a passerine bird of the family Icteridae found as a permanent resident on the coasts of the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic United States.
Region
Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic United States
Typical Environment
Primarily found along coastal salt and brackish marshes, estuaries, lagoons, mangroves in southern Florida, and human-altered waterfronts. They occur from the Mid-Atlantic (e.g., New Jersey) south through Florida and west along the Gulf Coast to Texas. Nests are placed in dense emergent vegetation like cattails and cordgrass, often over shallow water. They commonly forage at the edges of marsh pools, beaches, docks, and urban shorelines. Inland occurrences are rare and usually near extensive wetlands.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 300 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Boat-tailed grackles are large, glossy blackbirds of U.S. Atlantic and Gulf Coast marshes, named for the male’s long, keel-shaped tail. Eye color varies geographically: pale yellow in many Atlantic Coast birds and dark brown around Florida and the Gulf. They are bold, social, and often gather around parking lots, beaches, and marinas. Males are much larger than females and defend territories in colonies nesting over water.
Atlantic coast male with yellow eyes at Assateague Island National Seashore.
Temperament
social and bold
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with occasional glides
Social Behavior
Often nests in loose colonies in marsh vegetation, with males defending territories and courting multiple females. Forms large communal roosts outside the breeding season, sometimes with other blackbirds and starlings. Courtship includes tail-fanning, puffed body posture, and loud vocal displays.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are loud and varied, including creaks, rattles, squeals, and sharp whistles. Songs are often delivered from exposed perches and accompany display postures. Calls carry far across open marshes.
Plumage
Males are glossy black with strong iridescent blue-purple sheen; females are smaller, dark brown above with paler, warmer brown underparts. Both sexes show a very long, flattened, keel-like tail, most pronounced in males.
Diet
An opportunistic omnivore that takes insects, spiders, small crustaceans such as fiddler crabs, small fish, snails, and frogs. Also consumes seeds, grains, berries, and human food scraps. It may occasionally raid nests for eggs or nestlings and scavenges around piers and parking lots.
Preferred Environment
Forages along marsh edges, mudflats, tidal wrack lines, and shallow water, often wading. Frequently visits docks, beaches, outdoor eateries, and trash receptacles in coastal towns.
