It Is Great-tailed Grackle Breeding Season

Male Great-tailed Grackle displaying with a prize in its bill – Nikon D500, f7.1, tripod mounted, 1/500, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I had a fun time at my local pond yesterday because it is Great-tailed Grackle breeding display season and photographing these grackles kept me on my toes. The light fluctuated because there were clouds moving around overhead but I couldn’t resist photographing the displaying male Great-tailed Grackles.

I am not sure what this male Great-tailed Grackle had in its bill but it sure seemed determined to show it off.

Two male Great-tailed Grackle males displaying – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f10, 1/500, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

The male grackles often moved around each other with their bills pointed up towards the sky. I noticed that there were times that I couldn’t see their eyes well at all. Sometimes their nictitating membranes covered their eyes, sometimes it was simply that their head was held so high that I couldn’t see their eyes.

Four Great-tailed Grackle males displaying – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f14, 1/160, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

There were about 15 male Great-tailed Common Grackles displaying in front of me. At times it was challenging to decide which of them to focus on. The action got hot and heavy a few times and I watched as two grackles tried to beat the snot out of each other. Hormones seemed to be running high.

Male Great-tailed Grackle displaying on a late winter morning – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f14, 1/160, ISO 500, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

After a bit I decided to focus on individual male Great-tailed Grackles when they stood out from the crowd. This grackle certainly stood out.

Displaying male Great-tailed Grackle in late winter – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f11, 1/320, ISO 500, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

This photo makes me laugh because the male Great-tailed Grackle looks a touch disgusted that he has soiled feathers.

Great-tailed Grackles use a communal roost at night and I guess that those grackles on the lower branches have learned that poop does go down hill.

Of course this grackle isn’t disgusted but seeing the white wash of bird poop on its feathers did make me chuckle.

Adult Great-tailed Grackle male displaying – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f11, 1/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I moved around a few times trying to get the best light angle so that the iridescence in the feathers of the male grackles showed in my photos. I could have gotten a slightly better angle but I would have had to walk into the cold water of the nearby pond. I decided against that since the temps were in the mid 30’s plus I didn’t have any hip waders handy.

Late winter Great-tailed Grackle male displaying – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f11, 1/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

It was fascinating to watch the male Great-tailed Grackles displaying and interesting that I saw only a few female grackles near them. Were there more female grackles watching them from a distance? I am not sure.

Great-tailed Grackle male in a breeding display posture – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f11, 1/500, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Apparently the lack of nearby females didn’t seem to slow down the displays of the males one bit. They pointed their bills to the sky and walked around on the grassy areas.

Calling male Great-tailed Grackle during a breeding display – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f11, 1/400, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

And they called and sang frequently. Great-tailed Grackles are a noisy species. I like their calls and songs.

Female Great-tailed Grackle resting on rushes – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f7.1, 1/160, ISO 500, +1.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

This female Great-tailed Grackle didn’t seem impressed with all the displaying males. She simply rested on some rushes at the edge of the pond.

Post-bath wet male Great-tailed Grackle portrait – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f8, 1/800, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I photographed a bathing male Great-tailed Grackle but since this post has already gotten long I will try to share those images at a future date. I did want to include this portrait taken of one of the males after he had bathed. He was wet and bedraggled looking and this portrait made me smile.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Great-tailed Grackle photos plus facts and information about this species.