Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus
Overview
Description
The great-tailed grackle or Mexican grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) is a medium-sized, highly social passerine bird native to North and South America. A member of the family Icteridae, it is one of 10 extant species of grackle and is closely related to the boat-tailed grackle and the extinct slender-billed grackle. In the southern and southwestern United States, the grackle is sometimes referred to simply as a "blackbird" or (erroneously) a "crow" due to its glossy black plumage; however, grackles form their own unique genus that is separate from other "blackbirds", such as the red-winged and Brewer's blackbirds, despite being in the same family (Icteridae). Superficially, Brewer's blackbird is one of the most visually similar species to grackles. In some parts of México, the grackle is sometimes referred to in Spanish as cuervo ("raven"; "crow"), although it is not a member of the crow genus (Corvus) nor of their family (Corvidae).1
Taxonomy
Passeriformes > Icteridae (Troupials and Allies) > Blackbirds
Sightings
Relevant Sightings
- 11-26-2023 - California, United States (First Sighting / First and Best Photo)
- 06-01-2025 - California, United States (Last Sighting)
Places Seen
- Arizona, United States
- California, United States
- Ciudad de México, Mexico
Media
Photographs
Audio Recordings
No audio recordings available.