How do grackles open acorns?

How do grackles open acorns? Every job has the perfect tool, and grackles come well-equipped to crack open this hard nut. But do all birds in the family Icteridae have this ability? Let's jump into some more interesting facts about North American blackbirds!
Chapters:
Introduction 00:00
What is a hard keel? 01:10
Grackle acorn cracking in action! 01:33
Do all icterids have it? 02:38
Conclusion 03:46
Related videos:
What is Gaping in Blackbirds? kzbin.info/www/bejne/paHHaqZ6pNKeeLM
All About Grackles kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZpPSh6avlJlobbs
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Photos and video sources:
Canva.com
www.canva.com/policies/free-media-license-agreement-2022-01-03/
Flickr.com
www.flickr.com/creativecommons/
Pexels.com
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Videvo.net
Credits in order of appearance:
Introduction
-Greater Antillean grackle by USO from Canva.com
-Comon grackle by Tina Nord from Pexels.com
What is a hard keel?
-Common grackle with sunflower seed by rlortie from Canva.com
-Common grackle with acorn by CarolinaBirdman from Canva.com
-Oak tree and acorn by pressdigital from Canva.com
Grackle acorn cracking in action!
-Common grackle cracking acorn by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren from Flickr.com
Do all icterids have it?
-Yellow-tailed oriole by mlharing from Canva.com
-Common grackle with acorn by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren from Flickr.com
-Brown-headed cowbird by BrianEKushner from Canva.com
-Chestnut-headed oropendola by phototrip from Canva.com
-Male Baltimore oriole by bookguy from Canva.com
-Female Baltimore oriole by photosbyjim from Canva.com
-Male Baltimore oriole by Harry Collins from Canva.com
-Montezuma oropendola by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren from Flickr.com
-Crested oropendola by BlackBoxGuild from videvo.net
Conclusion
-Common grackle cracking acorn by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren from Flickr.com
Thumbnail photo credit:
-Common grackle with acorn by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren from Flickr.com

[@kitkat5765]

Never seen a grackle (or any icterid) do this--but I'll now be on the lookout! (Just saw a RWBL get into a fight with a grackle this morning; the grackles' eyes make them look permanently surprised to me, so it was quite funny to watch, as if the grackle was like "who, me? Why I'd never, sir.")

[@ElektronikGirlEpic]

I love birdie

[@Mike100istCarnivorousPlants]

I really like all the different types of birds shown especially that yellow-tailed oriole 🤩

[@dumoulin11]

I've seen Boat-tailed Grackles in Cuba working away at hard seeds in the same way as the grackle in your video. It's good to have that explained, thanks!

[@corbechupacabra]

this completely changes my understanding of grackles! i was taught that grackles have almost no biting strength but instead have a strong prying action. clearly i was misinformed because even scoring an acorn would take considerable force.

[@psilver]

love grackles

[@fluffykins1139]

Found your channel recently and just wanted to let you know how useful it is to a student in wildlife biology! Keep up the great work and thank you for the amazing videos!

[@allthingsbirdie]

Thanks so much!

[@louisebelair2245]

Thank you for your very interresting videos about birds. Its the first time that I hear about this "hard keel".

[@Ichijoe2112]

3:27 The Eurasin Oriole (i.e. Oriolus oriolus), Says hi! That Orange Boid? Is an Oriole in name only it's correct name is Icterus galbula. They kinda look similar, the true Oriole being bright yellow, as opposed to Orange. But they are very different songbirds.

[@JeanChordeiles]

Birds don't keep the same diet all year long. Fruits or insects are not always available.

[@user-ug2yz6vb7p]

I think it is evolution and we are yet to see the reason. When adaptation comes, I hope you see it first and share the knowledge with us.

[@allthingsbirdie]

That's very kind of you to say!