Fish Crow or Boat-Tailed Grackle ?

Call

Audio by Paul Marvin

There's more to learn about Fish Crow

Boat-Tailed Grackle

Quiscalus major

How to recognise a boat-tailed grackle?

General appearance

Boat-tailed Grackles are about the size of a crow, possessing a black, brown, and tan color. They feature rounded wings and have a long, rounded, or wedge-shaped tail, resembling a Great-tailed Grackle but with a shorter tail and rounder head. Differences can be noted in their eye color depending on the geographical location. In Texas-Louisiana coast overlap region, Boat-tails have dark eyes.

Male vs female

Size variations exist between male and female boat-tailed grackles. Males measure between 41 and 43 cm, while females are notably smaller, ranging between 33 and 35 cm. As such, males are generally larger than the females.

Juvenile

Interestingly, young Boat-tails, much like their Great-tail counterparts, have dark eye color. It's important to note that Boat-tails found north from northeast Florida possess yellow eyes. This characteristic sets them apart and could be useful in identification.

Size

14.6 - 16.9 in/3.5 - 8.5 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The boat-tailed grackle primarily inhabits marshes, beaches, and areas close to the coast. They're also found near bodies of water like flooded fields and mudflats, and in drier fields in coastal regions.

Additional range

Unexpectedly, the grackle may occupy areas quite inland in Florida, though they're typically found near marshes and lakes.

Range Map

What do boat-tailed grackles like to eat?

Natural diet

The boat-tailed grackle is omnivorous, primarily sourcing its diet from water. It consumes a variety of aquatic food such as insects, snails, crayfish, crabs, mussels, shrimp, tadpoles, frogs, and small fish. On land, it eats insects like grasshoppers and caterpillars, and occasionally the eggs and young of other birds. Seasonally, seeds and grains also play a significant role in its diet.

Bird feeders

Common foods that boat-tailed grackles might consume at bird feeders include grain, seeds, and sometimes nuts or suet. They are also known to eat various types of birdseed blends offered at these feeders.

What does a boat-tailed grackle sound like?

The boat-tailed grackle vocalizes with a distinct, harsh "jeeb-jeeb-jeeb-jeeb" sound that differs from the characteristic whistles and clucks of the Great-tailed Grackle. Its calling pattern demonstrates a flat, falling sequence. The call can be categorized under four types: buzz, chatter, chirp/chip, and rattle, by each lending a unique nuance to the grackle's song.

Call

Audio by Paul Marvin

Song

Audio by Paul Marvin

Song

Audio by Paul Marvin

There's more to learn about Boat-Tailed Grackle

Fish Crow

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Boat-Tailed Grackle

Fish Crow

Corvus ossifragus

General appearance

The fish crow is slightly smaller than the American Crow, measuring around 43 cm. It has slightly more pointed wingtips and is generally black in color. Its wings show a broad and fingered shape, while its tail is rounded and square-tipped.

Male vs female

There are no significant physical differences between male and female fish crows. Both sexes share the same coloration and physical traits. Any difference would be identifiable primarily through their various calls and behavior.

Juvenile

Young fish crows produce many nasal calls much like young American Crows. Apart from these vocal differences, juvenile Fish Crows resemble adults in physical characteristics and coloration. As they mature, their overall size increases and their call alters, further distinguishing them from the similar American Crow species.

Size

14.2 - 15.7 in/6.9 - 11.6 oz

There's more to learn about Fish Crow

Boat-Tailed Grackle

Quiscalus major

General appearance

Boat-tailed Grackles are about the size of a crow, possessing a black, brown, and tan color. They feature rounded wings and have a long, rounded, or wedge-shaped tail, resembling a Great-tailed Grackle but with a shorter tail and rounder head. Differences can be noted in their eye color depending on the geographical location. In Texas-Louisiana coast overlap region, Boat-tails have dark eyes.

Male vs female

Size variations exist between male and female boat-tailed grackles. Males measure between 41 and 43 cm, while females are notably smaller, ranging between 33 and 35 cm. As such, males are generally larger than the females.

Juvenile

Interestingly, young Boat-tails, much like their Great-tail counterparts, have dark eye color. It's important to note that Boat-tails found north from northeast Florida possess yellow eyes. This characteristic sets them apart and could be useful in identification.

Size

14.6 - 16.9 in/3.5 - 8.5 oz

There's more to learn about Boat-Tailed Grackle

How to tell the Fish Crow from the Boat-Tailed Grackle

Visual differences

The Fish Crow is uniformly black, with a rounded, square-tipped tail, and measures 14-16 inches long, weighing 195-330g. It has broad, fingered wings. In contrast, the Boat-Tailed Grackle is similar in size (14.5-17 inches) and may have brown and tan hues. It features a longer, rounded, or wedge-shaped tail, with rounded wings and weighs 100-240g. Males are larger than females. Eye color varies geographically in grackles; northern populations might have yellow eyes, unlike the generally dark-eyed Crows.

Key differences and behavior

The Fish Crow and Boat-Tailed Grackle differ notably in behavior, habitat, and diet. Fish Crows are adaptable opportunists, feeding on carrion, insects, and eggs and caching surplus food. They prefer coastal and inland water areas and nest in trees in loose colonies. Boat-Tailed Grackles, meanwhile, frequent coastal marshes and are adept swimmers, relying heavily on aquatic prey. Their nesting involves complex courtship, with territories established by males, typically in dense vegetation. Both species are omnivorous, but Fish Crows have a more varied diet including scavenging behaviors, while grackles focus on aquatic food sources. In social interactions, Fish Crows can harass other birds, whereas grackles showcase more cooperative breeding roles with defined male territories.

Still not sure? Here are more lookalikes!

Fish Crow vs American Crow

Fish Crow

American Crow

Fish Crow vs Common Raven

Fish Crow

Common Raven

Boat-Tailed Grackle vs Great-Tailed Grackle

Boat-Tailed Grackle

Great-Tailed Grackle

Boat-Tailed Grackle vs Common Grackle

Boat-Tailed Grackle

Common Grackle

Glossy and bold, with a sharp, raspy call.