This common grackle displays typical black plumage with an overlaying purple metallic sheen. A noisy and gregarious type of blackbird, the common grackle has adapted easily to urban life. The birds eat all types of food and build nests of grass and mud within city parks and on urban structures. During their fall migration, large flocks of common grackles alight and feed in corn and grain fields across central and eastern North America.

"Common Grackle," Microsoft(R) Encarta(R) 96 Encyclopedia. (c) 1993-1995 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.