Where Do Grackles Nest?

Grackles get a bad rap. Known for being bird-feeder bullies, these large, lanky blackbirds don’t seem bothered by their reputation. Along with bullying songbirds and rapidly cleaning out entire birdfeeders of seed, grackles are also considered an agricultural pest. When humans have named a group of you and your friends a plague, you know your popularity is in question.

Do Grackles Deserve Their Bad Reputation?

Ever outgoing, sociable, and looking for a good time, grackles endure the ire of humans with their signature good-natured charm. Despite the damage they cause, they do have many redeeming qualities. Three types of grackles are native to North America, so they serve an ecological purpose. They eat bugs like spiders and wasps, as well as insects that damage crops like moths, grasshoppers, and beetles.

Perhaps most endearing to human sensibilities is their sociability. They often roost in large groups and build their nests in small communities. Typically 10-20 but sometimes up to 100 pairs of grackles will build their nests in one area. You’re likely to hear their notorious squeaky calls before spotting the nests. Grackles, like most successful birds, are masters at nest building. If you want to watch these gregarious blackbirds in chick-rearing action, you have to know where to look for their nests.

Listen to the various squeaks, whistles, and croaks of grackle chatter.

Where Do Grackles Nest?

Nest sites are often well-hidden among branches of dense tree cover or among thick shrubs. Grackles prefer to build their nurseries close to a water source. The female builds the bulky, bowl-shaped nest on her own. She uses weeds, grass, twigs, and any materials she might find useful, like corn husks or cloth. The inside is usually lined with fine grass.

Look for grackle nests anywhere from 10-30 feet above the ground, although these birds will sometimes build their nests within dense reedy marsh growth, like cattails. Often two vertical limbs or a horizontal branch in a conifer tree serve as a desirable spot for a grackle to build her nest. Ever industrious, hopeful grackle mothers typically complete their nests within a week. Grackle nests are six to nine inches across and three to nine inches deep.

Check out the Audubon Society’s grackle guide.

What Do Grackle Eggs Look Like?

Grackle eggs are pale greenish-brown with dark marks that look as if they were splattered with paint. The female will incubate the four to seven eggs she hatches for about two weeks. Once they hatch, their mother will care for them in the nest for about 12-16 days, sometimes with help from her mate. After leaving the nest, the young grackles join the fun of emptying bird feeders and harassing other birds. Love them or not, their energetic antics and social nature should provide plenty of avian entertainment.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Melinda Fawver/Shutterstock.com