Fun Carib Grackle Facts For Kids

The Carib grackle (Quiscalus lugubris) is a resident breeder bird species found in the Lesser Antilles, North America, and northern South America, east of the Andes from Colombia to Brazil. This New World tropical blackbird is widespread and distributed all over the globe.

They prefer habitats that are open areas, cultivated fields, and even towns and areas of human habitation.

The carib grackle has eight subspecies, out of which Q. l. lugubris is the most common one. This noisy bird is usually scrutinized in larger flocks or groups. They have a glossy black body with pointed tapered bills and long tails. This highly gregarious species generally feeds on the ground as their diet consists of insects and invertebrates.

They are introduced as a mild scavenger that feeds on scraps and garbage. Carib grackles are mean to other birds, and they may even kill other birds. Therefore, many consider them undesirable birds.

Grackles are not afraid of anything specific, however, people use electronic or ultrasonic bird repellants to defer grackles. They are important and good for the ecological balance as they prey on undesirable insects and some foxes and hawks prey on them.

For more relatable content, check out these willet facts and great-tailed grackle facts for kids.
 

Carib Grackle Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a carib grackle?

The carib grackle (Quiscalus lugubris) is a type of bird that is a member of the Icteridae family.

What class of animal does a carib grackle belong to?

The carib grackle (Quiscalus lugubris) is a bird species belonging to the class of Aves.

How many carib grackles are there in the world?

Carib grackles are found in abundance. However, their population is not yet evaluated.

Where does a carib grackle live?

Carib grackles live in open habitats and forest galleries. They are found in the Lesser Antilles, North America, and in northern South America, east of the Andes from Colombia to Venezuela, and Brazil.

They live in nests built on tall trees such as palms. Their nests are built by the females of the species, which are made up of twigs, hay, and dead leaves. These nests are fortified and structured along the edges with mud.

What is a carib grackle's habitat?

A carib grackle is habituated in open areas, in open savannahs, and in cultivation areas. Additionally, they have now occupied urban areas and human habitations because of the major loss of habitat and deforestation.

Who do carib grackles live with?

Carib grackles live in groups or flocks. They nest in colonies and often form groups to attack potential predators.

How long does a carib grackle live?

The carib grackle (Quiscalus lugubris) has a decent life expectancy, and they can live for around 15 years.

How do they reproduce?

The carib grackle's breeding season is variable, and it depends on their geographic distribution. They usually mate in towns near human habitations, forest galleries, and cultivation sites.

They often breed in colonies, and so they are introduced as colonial breeders. They breed in nests built on the upper branches of tall trees. The carib grackle is sometimes a host of shiny cowbirds.

After the mating process, the adult female lays two to four eggs which are white in color with tints of green. Their incubation period lasts for about 12 days. As soon as the eggs hatch, the chicks fledge away after two weeks.

The adult male carib grackle feeds the adult female throughout the process. A female carib grackle is known to produce one or two broods in a year, depending upon the distribution.

What is their conservation status?

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, they are categorized as a Least Concern species.

Carib Grackle Fun Facts

What do carib grackles look like?

The carib grackle (Quiscalus lugubris) is a New World blackbird that is identified by its entirely black plumage. They are very small birds with an adult male reaching 10.6 in (27 cm) while, females reach 9.1 in (23 cm). Therefore, the male carib is relatively larger than females.

Moreover, carib grackles possess sexual dimorphism as a male's plumage is entirely black whereas females have notes of brown in the plumage, their feathers appear to be dull, and the tails of a female carib is smaller than that of males.

Carib grackles possess a long wedge-shaped tail that is relatively longer than other parts of the body. Their eyes are yellow, and their plumage has black with a violet tinge. Both the female and male birds of this species have narrow, short, and pointed black bills, whilst the chicks have brown eyes and feathers.

How cute are they?

The carib grackle is a cute small species of bird. They are adored and welcomed by many, whereas some might not adore them because of their behavioral traits.

How do they communicate?

Carib grackles are considered to be noisy among birds, and mainly communicate through calls. They often make calls that sound like 'queek-queek-queek-queek'. The carib grackle's song or calls are harsh and loud. Naturally, they make 'tickita-tickita-tickita-ting' and a rapid 'chi-chi-chi-chi' sound. The carib grackle song is musical as well as harsh.

How big is a carib grackle?

The carib grackle's size may range between 9.1-10.6 in (23-27 cm). A carib grackle is one-third times smaller than the common grackle and half smaller than a vesper sparrow.

How fast can a carib grackle fly?

Carib grackles possess excellent flying skills, and they utilize their strong wing beats while flying and hovering. They are excellent at gliding. However, their flying speed has not been evaluated.

How much does a carib grackle weigh?

A carib grackle weighs around 2.3-2.8 oz (66-80 g). They are heavier than a golden-crowned sparrow.

What are the male and female names of the species?

The male and female of tis species are not differentiated. Collectively, both are called carib grackles (Quiscalus lugubris).

What would you call a baby carib grackle?

A baby carib grackle is called a chick, hatchling, or fledgling.

What do they eat?

The carib grackle is an omnivore that sometimes feeds on the garbage and discarded items. They are known as mild scavengers and are opportunistic foragers. They primarily feed on invertebrates, small insects, and scraps. This bird can become very tame and bold. Moreover, they are often observed to enter rooms through windows where they find leftover food.

They use their bills to sense and kill their prey. They are known to be bold as they catch their food even when they are near to humans. Their conspecifics compete with each other while preying and catching food. In addition to that, they might also consume lizards, bats, and small fishes at times.

Are they predators?

Yes, they are considered to be predators as they are readily involved in killing and consuming other animals.

Would they make a good pet?

No, they would not make a good pet as they are accustomed to the wild, unlike the American tree sparrow. Moreover, grackles are considered pests because of their seed-eating habits.

Did you know...

They often catch their foodstuff, and then drop it in water and eat it immediately or carry it away. It is studied that they do this to soften the food.

How smart are carib grackles?

They are a smart species of bird as they can sense and locate their food actively. Moreover, they are often observed to enter rooms and kitchens of hotels through windows where they can find leftover food items.

Are carib grackles aggressive?

Yes, they are aggressive, but only while catching their prey and food, otherwise, they are very gregarious.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds from our tricolored heron facts and Goliath heron facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Carib grackle coloring pages.