Written by Janelle Wicks/Photo by Dan Streiffert
Great-tailed grackles (Quiscalus mexicanus) are a familiar and vocal presence in wetland and agricultural landscapes across the western United States, but not typically in the Harney Basin. At Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, they are might be seen in open areas near marshes, irrigated fields, roadsides, and other edge habitats where water, forage, and perches… or feeders are available.
These medium-sized blackbirds are easy to identify by their glossy dark plumage, long keel-shaped tail, and pale-yellow eyes. Males are especially striking, with iridescent black feathers that can shimmer blue or purple in the right light, while females are smaller and browner overall. Their loud, varied calls are another hallmark of the species and make them one of the most conspicuous birds in the landscape.
Great-tailed grackles are highly adaptable and opportunistic foragers. Their diet includes insects, seeds, grains, small invertebrates, and human food waste, which allows them to take advantage of a wide range of habitats and changing conditions. This might also be why they can be known as dumpster divers in more populated areas.
From an ecological perspective, the species is a good example of how birds respond to habitat mosaics rather than isolated habitat types. Their presence around the Refuge reflects the broader connectivity between wetlands, flood-irrigated meadows, agricultural lands, and human activity. Observing species like the Great-tailed Grackle can help us better understand how wildlife uses the full range of habitats in the basin.
Though not always considered a conservation focal species, the great-tailed grackle offers an important reminder: healthy landscapes support a diversity of birds, including those that thrive in the spaces between wild and working lands.
