Great-tailed Grackle: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Crows and Clever Birds · day 5 of 7

Five facts

1. Food floating out of reach in a tube of water? This grackle drops objects in to raise the water until the treat comes up.
2. Between 1880 and 2000, it spread north into the United States, growing its breeding range by over 5,500%.
3. In the days of the Aztec emperor Ahuitzotl, these grackles were brought to the Aztec capital, probably for their shiny feathers.
4. It cannot swim, yet it catches fish. It flies low over the water and dips in to snatch one.
5. Its calls range from sweet tinkling notes to something like a rusty gate hinge. Some people find it so loud they call it a pest.

The quiz

1. How does the great-tailed grackle get floating food out of a water tube?

• It tips the tube over
• It drops objects in to raise the water (correct)
• It sucks the water out
• It waits for it to sink

Dropping objects in raises the water level and brings the food up.

2. By how much did its breeding range grow between 1880 and 2000?

• About 10%
• It shrank by half
• Over 5,500% (correct)
• It did not change

It spread north and its range grew by over 5,500%.

3. Why did the Aztecs probably bring grackles to their capital?

• To use their shiny feathers as decoration (correct)
• To carry messages
• To guard the palace
• To train as hunting birds

Their iridescent feathers were most likely used for decoration.

4. How does this grackle catch fish?

• By swimming underwater
• By stealing from bears
• By using a twig as a fishing rod
• By flying low and dipping into the water (correct)

It does not swim, but dips in from low flight to grab fish.

5. What can some great-tailed grackle calls sound like?

• A lion's roar
• A rusty gate hinge (correct)
• A ringing phone
• A drum roll

Its sounds run from tinkling notes to a rusty-hinge creak.

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