Great-tailed Grackle: A Bold and Misunderstood Urban Bird

[@davidhines68]

I love Great-tailed Grackles. They molt regularly in Phoenix, so they can often look a bit raggedy, but they're like jazz improvisors.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

That is very true about their jazzy songs lol

[@hammerdon1962]

They're definitely the smartest most interesting bird in the yard. But they are also nest robbers. I watch them pretty closely. and they definitely eat a lot of baby birds.

[@tubermind]

Me too! Their vocalizations are brilliant!

[@lauravandenbergh7557]

5:16 Just experienced these birds at the Austin airport for the first time. I love them and their funny noises. Never a nuisance in my opinion. My new favorite bird!!!!

[@BadgerlandBirding]

💕 it!

[@wastelock]

I used to see these guys constantly when I lived in Texas. My cat perked up at a familiar sound he hadn't heard in a while!

[@infallibleblue]

They are so unique when they make their sounds. They are quite smart. Sometimes I think they are bullies to lil birds but sometimes they’re chill.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

I would say that’s accurate

[@NathanWebb-c5h]

I've seen the boat-tailed grackle in Florida.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Big fab if the boat tails

[@cordeliaalderman391]

I love boat tailed grackles and their blue-black iridescence.

[@mmps18]

I love grackles! Their goofy eyes and intelligence and pretty feathers make me smile.

[@adventureswithduck7400]

I seen one the other day here in Central Washington. When I looked it up it freaked me out as they are not known to be this far North. It was my first "Rare" sighting. I didn't get a photo was I was shopping and it was in the Walmart parking lot, but it flew off before I could get my phone crossed on it.

[@2degucitas]

Of course it was a Walmart parking lot!

[@StarTexaspets]

The "Walmart birds" 😂 I like when I see the males fighting holding their wings out to look big. I keep some sunflower seeds in the truck for my parking lot bros lol

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Parking lot bros sounds like an indie band lol

[@StarTexaspets]

@@BadgerlandBirding 😂😂😂

[@ronhali3164]

Are you a trucker? Cause this legit sounds like when I had to find parking in the southeast 😅😂

[@sherrie6492]

Pacific Northwest here. No grackles. Starlings are my parking lot buddies. Feed them too.

[@nawdude4292]

There's one Walmart near me that has a grip of these guys. I love it. They sound super cool and are seemingly pretty friendly when you give em food

[@sherrie6492]

Amazing how so many love the grackles but no doubt hate Starlings. They sre so similar in behavior. Pacific Northwest here. Only saw them once. Large flock passing thru. I was hoping they would stay. I heard them before i saw them. Really fasinating . But then i also love starlings

[@meena8093]

I adore them 🥰 my complex is surrounded by trees & a creek, and it’s a lovely treat to be greeted by them in the morning-especially during a work day. I can’t help but smile, listening to their endless chatter & gazing at their stunning features. Thank you for sharing this video with us!

[@Beryllahawk]

I've yet to see one myself, but my mother used to tell me strange stories about grackles. As far as I know she was never particularly into birding but she used to hunt with her father; they kept beagles that also went on such hunts. It seems that the grackles (this would've been in Ohio in the 1960s or 1970s) had a really bad habit of harassing the dogs. I'm not sure just what they might have done but I can imagine that they at least would fly in sight of the beagles and get the dogs all upset/excited, heh. Blue jays will do that to dogs and cats both, taunting them. I'd be interested to see one for real though, especially with such odd noises!

[@roberteugenecarter]

I love these birds, their sounds, and all the of the fun that comes along with them. Had two nests in front of my house last year and I’m hoping for more broods this year!

[@ichhabe330]

Learned about this bird yesterday and had to see a video of it. Amazing bird.

[@krism4467]

They are beautiful 😍

[@peachpie3597]

My close friend from Oregon recently visited Texas and he was surprised by the sound of these birds, meanwhile it was so normal for me I didn't notice them in the background until he asked about them.

[@IndyRommelCo]

Mom 🏡 in RGV has these birds , kiskadees , hawks in garage & many more Spring Breakers by a rural man made lake.. Pretty cool.. She even has an egret than lives a top her house by a tree. White one on another tree… ❤😇🙏🙌🙌 🐦

[@richarddial1188]

Such a beautiful tail!

[@SW13333]

I love them too. I'm in southeast Texas and we see them at fast food places, grocery store parking lots and gas stations. I once saw one eat a huge toad! I love the sounds they make. Thanks for the video.

[@RubyWalker-j1n]

I've always loved grackles. I grew up in Austin and I used to love watching them while I sat outside & ate my lunch, drawing them in my sketchbook, feeding them a little.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

They definitely have personalities…and attitude

[@mikej9564]

Saw my first great tailed grackle today at Guajome park in Oceanside, CA. What a fascinating bird, unusual sounds and tail that changes from horizontal to vertical and even V tail.

[@Isaac-47517]

They are talented and interesting to hear. But , at times, depending on the atmosphere of their environment, they can be jerks. Thank you for dedicating as much time as you do to the more common birds. Just because something is abundant, doesnt make it less valuable. Though its perceived value may fluctuate along with each person's " demand".

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Thanks for watching and commenting! Sometimes it’s nice to really do a deep dive on birds that are common. It helps to appreciate them more

[@jordanwebster5077]

I'm from Canada and just visited the usa/Texas for the first time and while I did see them often they are the farthest thing from common up here and sure loved to see them

[@megangumkowski3181]

We have common grackles here, and I love their incandescent feathers! 😊

[@rerolley]

Their urban roosts in south Texas were impressive. Glad I didn't park under one of them.

[@ZSC92]

Love their tropical noises❤❤

[@Melanittanigra]

There is a single great tailed grackle in Florida that has lived in St. Petersburg for about a year, I think it is the only one in the state and possibly the first recorded

[@egotisticEgg]

we get the common grackle where im at, and i get so happy whenever i see one at my bird feeder.

[@ObsoletePencil]

I first discovered great tails the first time I was in Louisiana. Became fascinated. When I finally narrowed them down to grackles, I couldn't figure out if they were boat or great tails until I found videos of the sounds and calls made by each.

[@gregburkhart9764]

We saw these at a resort in Death Valley, I think, two years ago. They had a habit of freezing for many seconds while standing on the ground, with their head cocked to one side. I've not seen that behavior documented. Are we mistaking what we saw for some other bird?

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Probably not. These birds are super goofy so that wouldn’t be surprising at all

[@LouisCarvel-b6g]

I’ve seen the common grackle’s in Omaha Nebraska at the zoo. Lovely birds are very beautiful.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Very cool

[@JLowe1964]

Just saw my first one 3 days ago!!

[@sunnycharacter]

They intrigue me, but I love birds! Grackles are pretty, make fun sounds and great personalities. Although I understand why in urban and suburban areas they get dissed. In our central Texas town, humans use sound cannons to disperse giant flocks on the buildings, parking lots and power lines.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Those flocks down in Texas can get pretty massive

[@sunnycharacter]

@@BadgerlandBirding They sure do!

[@jordanwebster5077]

Love it best video on these on KZbin. These lil dudes are something wonderful I was getting gas in floydada Texas at 4:30 am and I swear I heard one say "help me" in a kids voice then proceed to dance to my music and sing

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Wow I’m not gonna lie I think I’d be creeped out and get out of there lol

[@HandyMan657]

We have either a great or boat-tailed in our backyard occasionally, difficult to catch the eyes while in flight. Either way, they're in PA now.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Interesting. Not just a common grackle?

[@HandyMan657]

@@BadgerlandBirding Doesn't seem to be, I thought about that. The Boat tail does come this far north, but not typically this far into the state. But it has been getting warmer, so migration has been a bit odd as of late.

[@Charles-e4x]

I've been seeing them a lot over the past year I've lived in Texas and even saw a bunch over in Mexico. Grown to really love them. The babies can get pretty big and still follow their mothers around on the ground and pester them for food. It's hilarious.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

They’re little goofballs!

[@KingKush-kg5bo]

i have a colony that comes to my pond reed to nest..one male is trained to catch worms from a chair. .never knew they had such vicious fights. Broke one up 5 years ago and caught one on cam yesterday can see on my channel. Its interesting how they seem to lock together

[@garymeredith2441]

Ryan I love these birds I think they're a crack up to listen to and just her personality I love them I adore them .

[@PreventiveCarnivore]

We observed a large family of grackles while camping at Apache Lake in Arizona a few weeks ago. I love all their fun vocalizations. They make all the Star Wars droid noises. 😂 Unfortunately, we don't get to see them up in the central highlands of AZ where we live. Too cold & arid.

[@asteroidnest3385]

I love these birds im a native texan and grew up around them lol

[@birddayparties]

Grackles are cool, we see large numbers in north Texas👍👍

[@BrandonLeech]

Definitely never seen these in Indiana but I am familiar with them in Texas. That is interesting they live all the way into Iowa

[@timothyrandazzo3298]

I love them.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

🦜

[@James-dp4ye]

I went to witchita kansas and these birds caught my eye. I live in nebraska and don't recall seeing them , so my Google search brought me here

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Nice! Happy to have you here!

[@boredwarlock5216]

"much to the chagrin of feeder watchers" lol

[@larryedwards4708]

Here in Phoenix grackles kill and eat mourning dove chicks. I see about a dozen carcasses in a 2 block dog walk. It's amazing that we still have doves

[@davidcashin1894]

Love this. I actually got several correct.

[@ghostmantagshome-er6pb]

One type definitely in central Michigan.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

The Common Grackle 👍

[@kingdomofcybercityanimations]

I used to think these birds were crows but recently I heard what a real Crow sounds like so now I found out they're grackles

[@NeighborhoodOfBlue]

Are they bothersome? Sure! Blackbirds are, especially if you're in agriculture or gardening. But goodness, they're interesting and beautiful. If they live near you, the key is to keep separate birdfeeders to reduce bullying toward your songbirds. And don't direct sow in your garden.

[@mormosplaysgaems]

I love these birds. Theyve got a lot of personality and i spent 2 hours observing a trio of them hanging out with my family by the pool. It was also the first bird i ever id’d as a bird watcher

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Personality is certainly something they have a lot of lol

[@radiophodity]

0:38 1:03

[@kellieanne915]

They definitely are shy of humans

[@SkiKoala]

Public Bird Enemy #1

[@ThePonderedPath]

This video is misleading!! They are soooo loud in person. You can’t get out at a gas station in Texas without loosing part of your hearing! And going to walmart is a whole new way to get a headache in Texas! The birds, the speakers, the heat, sooo many cars and people.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

@@ThePonderedPath how is it misleading? We include their loud vocalizations in the video