Discover the Quirky World of Grackles: Top 7 Fun Facts About These Common Birds

1. Sinatra of the Bird World

You may think they're just another pretty beak, but these suave crooners could give Sinatra a run for his money in the singing department: Common grackles are capable of belting out up to 80 unique tunes in their dashing male vocals, and their intelligence extends to using tools for foraging, like prying open nuts and using sticks to nab pesky insects.
Source => allaboutbirds.org

2. Avian Dating Experts

In a world where common grackles understand more about catwalk struts than humans, they've mastered the fine art of channeling their inner Cindy Crawford to find their soulmate: During mating season, male grackles puff up their feathers and slightly open their wings to look bigger and more attractive to females, asserting dominance over other males in the avian dating pool.
Source => birdavid.com

Did you know Blue Jays perform "anting" to turn ants into a nutritious meal equivalent to human-sized scrambled eggs? Discover this unique ritual!

=> Fun Facts about Blue-Jays

3. Ant Spa Day

Who needs a spa day when you've got ants on the payroll? Common Grackles have mastered the art of insect-staffed pampering: These savvy birds enlist the services of ants, allowing them to crawl on their feathers and apply formic acid to their bodies, effectively removing parasites and affording them a natural detox.
Source => birdzilla.com

4. Bird Detective Skills

When Sherlock Holmes met the bird world, and they had a baby: Common Grackles, these masterminds, are shockingly skilled in using tools like sticks and rocks to fetch hard-to-reach food and are even capable of sizing up human personas to judge their friend-or-foe status.
Source => askmarystone.com

5. History with Aztecs

Before they were partners in crime, swooping down and snatching your French fries, the common grackles were hobnobbing with the Aztecs, strutting about and flaunting their iridescent feathers like fashion icons of the ancient world: Grackles have coexisted alongside humans since the days of the Aztec civilization, who admired their glossy plumage, and though they're known for being opportunistic omnivores, there's no actual evidence that suggests a specific preference for your favorite salty snack.
Source => statesman.com

6. Cookie-Dunking Bird Buddies

You know that friend who insists on dipping their cookies in milk before munching them? Well, common grackles totally get it: These clever birds often soak dry bread crumbs in water before eating them, a quirky habit observed across diverse habitats like suburban lawns, farm fields, marshes, and streamsides.
Source => audubon.org

7. Party Whisperers

Party animals of the bird world, common grackles are masters of whispering sweet tweet-nothings into their sweetheart's ears, even when their nest is packed more tightly than a college kegger: Common grackles have individual, stereotyped song patterns that help them recognize their mates in noisy breeding colonies, preventing any "cocktail-party effect" confusion in their feathery love language.
Source => pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov