Common Grackle

Recommended Deterrents

Bird Chase Super Sonic, Bird-B-Gone Hawk, Ultra Net Bird Netting, Plastic Bird Spikes, Stainless Steel Bird Spikes, Reflective Eye Diverters, Flash Tape

Description

Grackles are blackbirds, with iridescent purple-blue feathers on the back, neck and head. Their legs and heads are also black; they have yellow eyes, and a long tail. Grackles measure 11-13 inches in length, have a wingspan of 14-18 inches, and weigh anywhere from 2.6 – 5 ounces

Habitat

Common grackles are found in open areas with scattered trees, in forest and urban areas. They can also be found in farmlands, orchards and swamps, savannahs, suburban and agricultural settings.

Diet

Grackles are omnivorous, eating insects, invertebrates, small fish and amphibians, mice, small bats, seeds, grains, acorns, and some fruits. Grackles will also eat bird eggs and nestlings, and the occasional adult bird.

How to Deter Grackles

Grackles commonly roost in large numbers (up to the thousands) in trees in open or urban settings. If grackle have chosen your property to roost in there are a few methods that can help deter them:

Habitat modification

Grackles are commonly found in trees. You can deter grackles from trees using the Bird Chase Super Sonic, a weatherproof sound deterrent design for large open spaces.
If grackles have chosen to nest inside a structure, block them from rafters or beams with Bird Netting, Bird Spikes, or Bird Slope.
Remove dead or dying trees from your property that double as grackle roosts. This will send the birds on to find a new home.

Remove any food source

Grackles are ground foragers that eat anything from seeds and fruit to invertebrates and fish. It may be difficult to remove any food sources unless they are feeding in a concentrated area.

Scare Tactics

Sound deterrents like the Bird Chase Super Sonic are ideal for dispersing grackles from trees and other areas.
Visual deterrents such as the Hawk Decoy, Predator Eye Balloons, Reflective Eye Diverters or shiny reflective objects can be hung in trees to scare off grackles.

Humane Removal / Professional Installer

If you don’t have the time, resources or expertise to solve your bird problem, there are wildlife and pest control companies that offer bird control as a service.
These professionals can install bird control products and offer other services such as clean-up and humane trap and removal.
Call Absolute Bird Control at 1-877-820-8205 for a qualified installer in your area.