Species Comparisons • Backyard Identification
Common Grackle vs Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Common Grackle • Wikimedia Commons
Common Grackle
Common Grackle • Wikimedia Commons
Common Grackle
Common Grackle • Wikimedia Commons
Common Grackle
Common Grackle • Wikimedia Commons
Red-winged Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird • Wikimedia Commons
Red-winged Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird • Wikimedia Commons
Red-winged Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird • Wikimedia Commons
Red-winged Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird • Wikimedia Commons
Common Grackle vs Red-winged Blackbird (Quiscalus quiscula vs Agelaius phoenicuses): The Complete Backyard Identification Guide
Field Summary
Quick Answer: The Fastest Way to Tell Them Apart
Two black birds, one with epaulets. Three rules:
- Shoulders: red-and-yellow epaulets = Red-winged; plain iridescent = grackle.
- Tail: very long, keel-shaped = grackle; medium = Red-winged.
- Eye: pale yellow = grackle; dark = Red-winged.
At-a-Glance Comparison Table
The long-tailed grackle and the marsh blackbird, side by side. KEY rows separate fastest.
| Feature | Common Grackle | Red-winged Blackbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Quiscalus quiscula | Agelaius phoenicuses |
| Length | 12.6 in (32 cm) | 8.75 in (22 cm) |
| Wingspan | 14–18 in (36–46 cm) | 13 in (33 cm) |
| Weight | 2.6–5.0 oz (74–142 g) | 1.1–2.7 oz (32–77 g) |
| Overall Shape | Large, long-tailed iridescent blackbird with a pale eye | The marsh blackbird — males flash scarlet-and-yellow shoulder epaulets |
| Male Plumage KEY | Iridescent blue-purple head, bronze-black body, long keel-shaped tail, pale yellow eye | Glossy black with red shoulder patches edged in yellow — flashed in display |
| Female Plumage | Like the male but smaller and duller, with less iridescence | Heavily streaked brown all over — looks like a giant sparrow |
| Bill Shape | Long, heavy, black, slightly decurved | Conical, sharp, black |
| Tail | Very long, folded into a deep V (keel) in flight | Medium, rounded |
| Core Range KEY | East of the Rockies — fields, wetlands, suburbs and parks | Marshes, wet meadows and fields continent-wide |
| Migration | Partial migrant; huge mixed blackbird flocks in fall and winter | Partial migrant; huge mixed winter flocks in the South |
| Feeder Presence | Descends on feeders in flocks for cracked corn and sunflower; dominates smaller birds | Swarms platform feeders for sunflower and millet near wetlands |
| Favorite Foods | Grain, insects, eggs, nestlings, small fish and frogs, refuse | Seeds, grain, insects |
| Song | A harsh, squeaky “readle-eak” like a rusty gate hinge | A gurgling “conk-la-ree” from a cattail top |
| Flight Call KEY | A sharp “chek” | A sharp “check” and high “teee” |
| Population Trend | Still abundant but declining; fall flocks can number in the thousands | Still abundant though declining; the voice of American wetlands |
Male Field Marks, Side by Side
Common Grackle — Male
Quiscalus quiscula
- Iridescent blue-purple head on a bronze-black body.
- Pale yellow eye and long keel-shaped tail.
- Bigger and longer-tailed than any blackbird or starling.
Red-winged Blackbird — Male
Agelaius phoenicuses
- Glossy black with red-and-yellow epaulets.
- Sings “conk-la-ree” while flaring his shoulders.
- Fearlessly dive-bombs hawks, herons and people.
Female & Juvenile Marks, Side by Side
Common Grackle — Female
Quiscalus quiscula
- Smaller and duller than the male, same pale eye.
- Joins mixed blackbird flocks at dusk roosts.
- Walks lawns with a deliberate, long-strided gait.
Red-winged Blackbird — Female
Agelaius phoenicuses
- Heavily streaked brown — a giant sparrow look.
- Weaves a hanging nest in cattails.
- Winter flocks mix with grackles and cowbirds.
Part-by-Part Anatomy Breakdown
Every part offers a check:
| Body Part | Common Grackle | Red-winged Blackbird |
|---|---|---|
| Male Shoulders | Plain iridescent purple-bronze | Scarlet epaulets with yellow borders |
| Male Tail | Very long, keel-folded in flight | Medium, rounded |
| Eye | Pale yellow | Dark |
| Bill | Heavy, long, black | Conical, pointed, black |
| Female | Smaller, dark glossy brown | Heavily streaked brown, sparrow-like |
| Song | Squeaky “readle-eak” | Liquid “konk-la-ree” |
| Habitat | Lawns, fields, parking lots | Cattail marsh, wet meadows |
Song & Call Comparison
Common Grackle
Quiscalus quiscula
Song: a harsh, squeaky readle-eak — the rusty-hinge song.
Calls: a sharp chek; huge roost flocks are deafening.
Common Grackle voice • Wikimedia Commons
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoenicuses
Song: a gurgling, metallic conk-la-ree.
Calls: a sharp check and high teee.
Red-winged Blackbird voice • Wikimedia Commons
Range & Seasonal Presence
The Common Grackle breeds east of the Rockies in open and suburban country; huge mixed roosts form in winter.
The Red-winged Blackbird breeds in marshes across nearly all of North America and floods fields and feeders in winter flocks.
Feeder Behavior & Favorite Foods
- Common Grackle: cracked corn and sunflower on platforms; dominates in gangs.
- Red-winged Blackbird: millet and cracked corn on the ground or platforms, often in dense flocks.
- Female check: a big streaky “sparrow” at the feeder is a female Red-winged; grackle females stay dark.
- Season: red-wings arrive on territory singing “konk-la-ree” weeks before grackles nest.
Temperament & Flock Behavior
Common Grackles swagger across lawns in long strides, soaking food in water and nest-robbing in season.
Red-winged Blackbirds are pugnacious — males dive-bomb crows, hawks and people near the marsh.
6-Step Backyard ID Checklist
- Epaulets. Red shoulders = Red-winged; plain = grackle.
- Tail. Long keel = grackle; medium = Red-winged.
- Eye. Pale yellow = grackle; dark = Red-winged.
- Female. Streaked brown = Red-winged; dark glossy = grackle.
- Habitat. Marsh = Red-winged; lawn = grackle.
- Song. “Konk-la-ree” = Red-winged; squeaky “readle-eak” = grackle.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you tell a grackle from a Red-winged Blackbird?
Red-winged males have scarlet shoulder patches with yellow borders. Grackles are plain iridescent with a much longer, keel-shaped tail and a pale yellow eye.
What does a female Red-winged Blackbird look like?
Nothing like the male — she is heavily streaked brown and looks like a giant sparrow. Female grackles stay dark and glossy.
Which bird says “konk-la-ree”?
The male Red-winged Blackbird, singing from a cattail with his epaulets flared.
Do they flock together?
Yes — in winter they join enormous mixed blackbird roosts with cowbirds and starlings.
Why do grackles dunk their food?
Grackles commonly soak hard food like dry kibble or stale bread in water before eating it.
Are Red-winged Blackbirds aggressive?
Males fiercely defend marsh territories — they will dive-bomb crows, hawks and passing people.
Key Takeaways
- Shoulders: Red epaulets = Red-winged; plain = grackle.
- Tail: Long keel = grackle; medium = Red-winged.
- Eye: Pale yellow = grackle; dark = Red-winged.
- Female: Streaked = Red-winged; dark = grackle.
- Habitat: Marsh = Red-winged; lawn = grackle.
- Song: Konk-la-ree = Red-winged.