Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) Max A. Henschell
Oakwoods Metro Park, Wayne Co., MI. 5/12/2008 © Jerry Jourdan
(ClickHU to view a comparison of Atlas I to II) U The return of the shimmering purple and of both coniferous and deciduous forests and are common breeders around human-altered bronze plumage, striking yellow eye and keeled habitats such as parks and urban areas, tail of the Common Grackle is a sure sign that particularly in shrubs and hedges close to water. spring is on its way throughout much of Affinity for human-altered habitat is evident in Michigan. A harbinger of the end of summer, the MBBA II map, with many confirmations large flocks of Common Grackles form in the coming from urban areas such as Detroit, farmlands throughout Michigan for migration Lansing, Clare, Gaylord, Sault Ste. Marie, Iron south. The Common Grackle was probably Mountain, Houghton/Hancock and Copper much less common in the state prior to Harbor. Peer and Bollinger (2007) also note that European settlement, but land cleared for Common Grackles are rarely found nesting in agriculture was rapidly inhabited by the species. dense forests. Areas of extensive forests such as Though now common throughout eastern North the Porcupine Mountains and the Ottawa and America, Common Grackle populations are on Hiawatha National Forests, have fewer the decline due to undetermined causes (Peer confirmations. Outside of urban settings, and Bollinger 1997). Common Grackles in Michigan breed in
partially open swamps, such as ash woodlots Common Grackles are widespread throughout and beaver ponds, as well as near farmland (S. the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, Haas, pers. comm.). as far north as northern Alberta, south through most of Texas and east through the Gulf States Common Grackles were recorded breeding in to the coast up to Newfoundland (Peer and nearly 95% of the townships in the southern LP, Bollinger 1997). It can be found in low numbers nearly 88% in the northern LP and 63% in the through the southernmost tier of Michigan UP during MBBA II. During MBBA I, counties during winter, north to Port Huron. It Common Grackles were found in 98%, 91% and nests throughout the state. 70% of townships, respectively. This decline is
consistent with Breeding Bird Survey data Distribution (Sauer et al. 2008), but may also be a result of Peer and Bollinger (1997) define the habitat as lower observer effort in MBBA II. "open to partially open situations with scattered trees." Common Grackles often nest along edges
© 2011 Kalamazoo Nature Center Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) Max A. Henschell
Common Grackles are widespread and abundant Michigan is in contrast with a slight increase of in all states neighboring Michigan. It was found 0.42% in FWS Region 3 during the same time in 87% of townships during the Wisconsin atlas period. The Central and Eastern BBS Regions (Harriman 2006) and in 100% of sample combined, covering most of the breeding range townships in both the Ohio (Peterjohn and Rice of Common Grackle, shows a decrease of 0.7% 1991) and Illinois atlases (Kleen et al 2007). (Sauer et al 2008). Ontario recorded Common Grackles in approximately 47% of its townships Conservation (Zimmerman 2007). This low occurrence is Land clearing practices throughout Michigan in most likely due to large amounts of dense boreal the late 1800s into the 1900s dramatically forest in the northern two-thirds of the province, increased the amount of habitat for Common which corresponds with the northern limit of the Grackle. Common Grackles are often breeding range documented during their atlas considered an agricultural pest because of their project (Zimmerman 2007). large aggregations around food sources such as corn, soybeans and cherries. For this reason, Breeding Biology Common Grackle joins other birds considered The Common Grackle is found throughout agricultural pests in the law, "Depredation order Michigan during the breeding season. Birds for blackbirds, cowbirds, grackles, crows and arrive on the breeding grounds starting in mid- magpies" (50 CFR 21.43 [2008]). This order March for the northern LP (Chartier and Ziarno allows the control of Common Grackles in 2004) and reach the northern limits of their agricultural situations "when found committing breeding range in the state in early April or about to commit depredations upon (Binford 2006). Pair-bonding begins as soon as ornamental or shade trees, agricultural crops, females arrive on the breeding grounds, livestock, or wildlife, or when concentrated in typically late March into April; birds in the such numbers and manner as to constitute a northern reaches of their range may not pair- health hazard or other nuisance". Large bond until May. Nesting occurs from mid-April aggregations of Common Grackle can also to early June, with fledging of young completed harbor the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum, by early July. Common Grackles are which can cause histoplasmosis, a disease fatal semicolonial breeders, and aggregate into in humans. This typically only occurs in roost groups of up to 30 pairs (McPeek et al 1994). sites used for several consecutive years. This is Nests are often built with a mud base and lined often controlled in urban areas using a with soft materials such as hair and grass; nests surfactant which removes feather oils, causing are typically found in coniferous trees or the birds to die of exposure. These control occasionally in dense brush (McPeek et al, measures have been cited as possible causes of 1994). the decline of Common Grackle throughout the eastern United States; more research is needed Abundance and Population Trends to determine what effect these measures actually
(ClickHU to view trends from the BBS) U have on Common Grackle numbers (Peer and Partners In Flight data indicates that the Bollinger 2007). Common Grackle is one of the most abundant birds in the state, with an estimated 1.6 million birds (PIF 2007). BBS data show a decrease of approximately 2.5% of observations per route for this species from the beginning of MBBA I to the end of MBBA II. The decrease in
© 2011 Kalamazoo Nature Center Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) Max A. Henschell
Literature Cited 5.15.2008. USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. Laurel, MD. Binford, L.C. 2006. Birds of the Keweenaw Zimmerman J.R. 2007. Common Grackle. In Peninsula, Michigan. MP 195. University of Cadman, M.D., D.A. Sutherland, G.G. Michigan Museum of Zoology. Ann Arbor, Beck, D. Lepage, and A.R. Couturier (eds.). MI. 2007. Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Chartier, A.T., and J. Ziarno. 2004. A Birder’s Ontario, 2001-2005. Bird Studies Canada, Guide to Michigan. American Birding Environment Canada, Ontario Field Association. Colorado Springs, CO. Ornithologists, Ontario Ministry of Natural "Depredation order for blackbirds, Resources, and Ontario Nature. Toronto, cowbirds, grackles, crows and magpies." Ontario. 2008. Code of Federal Regulations Title 50, pt 21.43 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Title 50, Suggested Citation Section 21.43 (2008). Depredation order for blackbirds, cowbirds, grackles, crows and Henschell, M.A. 2011. Common Grackle magpies. (Quiscalus quiscula). In Chartier, A.T., J.J. Harriman, B.R. 2006. Common Grackle Baldy, and J.M. Brenneman (eds.). 2010- (Quiscalus quiscula). In Cutright, N.J., B.R. 2011. The Second Michigan Breeding Bird Harriman, and R.W. Howe. 2006. Atlas of Atlas. Kalamazoo Nature Center. the Breeding Birds of Wisconsin. Wisconsin Kalamazoo, MI. Accessed online at: Society for Ornithology. Waukesha, WI.
© 2011 Kalamazoo Nature Center