Yes, they can prey on other bird’s eggs or fledglings, and can damage crops, but their bad reputation is not always fully deserved. Bird experts say the reason grackles, blackbirds, and even other species flock together in winter is because of similar feeding habits.

3 feet tall

Gold said dodos exhibited no fear of humans when people reached Mauritius in the 1500s. They had no natural predators on the islands before humans arrived. Because of this, sailors herded the birds onto their boats for fresh meat later in their voyages.

Grackles are also very territorial, so having large groups of these birds in trees where there is a lot of foot traffic could cause them to swoop down and attack people on the sidewalks.

‘ Grackles are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. It is a federal crime to capture, injure or kill grackles (including their eggs). Grackles are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.

Those raggedy figures out in cornfields may be called scare-crows, but grackles are the #1 threat to corn. They eat ripening corn as well as corn sprouts, and their habit of foraging in big flocks means they have a multimillion dollar impact.

Common Grackles eat other birds’ eggs and nestlings, and sometimes kill and eat other adult birds. They commonly eat adult house sparrows.

Santa Barbara, wanted to see if the grackles were as innovative as they were flexible. They seemed like good candidates for the experiments because, although they are very adaptable, they have relatively small brains compared with birds like crows, which are part of the very smart and inventive corvid family.

Although it’s only natural, grackles are often scorned because they’re known to raid other birds nests, stealing eggs or young. It even attempted attacks on thrush-sized birds. Numerous instances of grackles killing other small songbirds and mice have also been documented.