Crow Blackbird; Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) | Affiliated Manuscripts | Further Data

Occurrence in Amherst & Connecticut Valley, Mass.
C19

Common summer resident

March - October

C20

In the lowlands, an abundant transient and common summer resident, nesting in colonies, and also occasoinal in winter; in the hill-country, more of less rare but increasing

February - December

C21

Arrives last week of February– first week of March; departs November–onset of winter. —Mass Audubon

February - November

Habitat
open woodland, forest edges, meadows, marshes
Nest Materials
weeds, grasses, twigs, mud
19th-20th Century Field Notes
CROW BLACKBIRD . PURPLE GRACKLE . Iridescent , black ; iridescence , not specially defined in color or area . Length , 12 — 13 1 - 2 inches . Common summer resident . Earliest arrival , March 10 ; departs in October . Raises 1 brood . Eggs 3 - 6 , greenish or brownish , streaked and spotted with dark brown and black . Nest of grass , weeds , mud , etc . , in trees , usually , pine . Eggs laid about the middle of May . Feeds on insects , grain , etc . Beneficial . Notes , loud and harsh .

—H.L. Clark, 1887

21st Century Conservation Notes

Near threatened*