Common Grackles at Bird Feeders: What to Know
Common grackles are long-tailed blackbirds with glossy purple-blue heads and pale yellow eyes. They're native and fun to watch, but in spring and fall big flocks can clean out a feeder in an afternoon.
What grackles eat
Grackles eat insects, seeds, grain, and almost anything else. At feeders they go for cracked corn, sunflower, and suet.
Keep a flock from taking over
Switch to safflower, which grackles usually leave alone. Use tube feeders with short perches, and a weight-activated feeder set to close under heavier birds.
Upside-down suet feeders keep grackles off suet while woodpeckers and nuthatches still eat.
Cardinals love safflower. Squirrels, grackles, and starlings usually don't, which makes it a smart seed for feeders that get raided.
Check price on Amazon for Wagner's Safflower Seed (opens Amazon)The squirrel-proof feeder most experienced backyard birders end up buying. When a squirrel climbs on, its weight pulls a shroud down over the seed ports. Small birds keep eating.
Check price on Amazon for Brome Squirrel Buster Plus (opens Amazon)Woodpeckers, nuthatches, and chickadees happily hang upside down to eat. Starlings and grackles mostly don't, so the suet goes to the birds you want.
Check price on Amazon for Birds Choice Upside-Down Suet Feeder (opens Amazon)Be patient
Grackle flocks are biggest during migration. Many move on after a few weeks, so a short break from easy foods often does the trick.
Frequently asked questions
Are common grackles protected?
Yes. They're native birds protected under federal law, so manage them with food and feeder choices.
How do I tell a grackle from a starling?
Grackles are bigger, with long tails and pale eyes. Starlings are short-tailed, with dark eyes and spots in winter.
Do grackles eat safflower?
Rarely. It's the best seed to offer when they're crowding your feeders.
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