Grackles and crows are confusing birds.Most people will not be able to differentiate between the two. However, grackles and crows show a highly distant relationship.Have you ever seen a crow or a grackle? Ever thought of a grackle as a crow or a crow as a grackle? Well, if someone has ever experienced this they don’t need to worry. Many people in this world are unaware of some common distinguishing facts about crows and grackles. They are both bird species that look highly similar. Surprisingly though, grackles and crows are very distantly related. It is quite interesting to determine the facts about these birds which divide these two species.Grackles are known to have eleven types of species within themselves. Grackles are from the Icteridae family. Crows are from the Corvidae family. The differences between the hierarchical groups of these two birds show how highly distinguishable these birds are. Most crows can live up to fifteen years. YOu will be surely shocked to know the lifespan of grackles. Grackles live for a period of 22 years. Their body shape, voices, looks, and habits are all distinct. A group of grackles is known as a ‘plague’, whereas a group of crows is known as a ‘murder’. Yes, both the terms are highly amusing to hear.Whether it is a ‘plague’ or a ‘murder’, it is indeed unique and shocking. Even the native locations where these two birds are found also differ. You will find grackles in hilly areas or mountains, but a crow can easily be found on grasslands, agricultural areas, or even in a surrounding town. The native regions of these birds are also distinct. Crows are known to be Australian natives, while grackles hail from the North or South American region. Today, these birds are found almost everywhere on Earth.Like what you are reading about grackles and crows, then why not take a look at hair-crested drongo and Hammond’s flycatcher facts.Grackle Bird Vs Crow Body FeaturesIt is quite interesting for people to note the amazing features of a crow vs a grackle. Grackles and crows are two different species of birds.Both the species differ in body structure and body features. Firstly, the colors of crow and grackles are distinct. The female common grackle will have a faded brown color. It is also important to note that, to distinguish males from females, you can tell by their weight. Male grackles tend to be more fleshy and also brightly colored. As for color combination in crows, there is no difference seen between females and males. All crows have blackish-gray or wholly black feathers.An iridescent sheen is seen in both the birds in different body parts. Grackles have the iridescent sheen at the endings of their feathers whereas a crow will have it on all of its feathers. You can easily guess whether it is a grackle or a crow by just noticing the eye color. Crows are known to have classic black-colored eyes but grackles differ in eye color. Grackle’s eyes can be golden or yellowish golden and are way too easy and bright to spot. Also, crows have large body structures compared to grackles. The easiest way to spot a crow is the classic black color of the crow, which covers its whole body.Another body feature to identify is that a crow generally has a longer tail and a grackle tends to have a short tail. There are, in fact, exclusive great-tailed grackles known for their long tails. However, they are smaller in size and weight compared to an American crow. Female great-tailed grackles have long legs and flatheads. Likewise, the adult male has a long V-shaped tail with an almost blue body. They are loud and social birds. Apart from their bodily features, it is interesting that crows visit the same territory every year. So, if a yard-like spot was finalized last year, they are probably making it their nest territory with a view.What do grackles and crows eat?Now, coming to the dietary part of both birds, this may confuse you. Everyone knows that a crow is an omnivorous bird. So what about grackles?Are grackles also omnivorous in nature? Well, to give a factual answer to this question, it is must be noted that grackles are omnivores too. Though the favorite food of grackles can range from seeds and berries to fruits, grackles are considered omnivores. Grackles mostly feed on plant parts and insects. Grackles even consume bird eggs and a variety of insects.At some point, you can even find a grackle feeding on frogs and snakes. This bird is more open with the food that it eats rather than a crow. So what do crows eat? Crows tend to have similar characteristics to grackles for the diet part. Crows can eat everything and the favorite meal of crows can include nuts, grains, mollusks, worms, and seeds. Crows can also eat the flesh of other birds too. Another interesting diet supplement is that they sometimes also feed on baby rabbits, rats, frogs, and eggs. Veggies and fruits are awesome treats for both grackles and crows.Different Species of Grackles and CrowsThough grackles and crows are entirely different birds, both birds include various species. Many types of grackles can be found, such as great-tailed grackles and boat-tailed grackles. The colors of grackles also vary according to the various types of grackles.Crows come in a wide variety. The variety among crows is more than there is among grackles. There have been several famous types of crow species such as the common raven, carrion crow, rook, western jackdaw, house crow, large-billed crow, American crow, hooded crow, fish crow, torresian crow, and white-necked crow. The most common types of crows that are widely seen are jackdaws, ravens, rooks, and house crows. Out of the list, you can say ravens are unique. A raven can mimic human speech. You can also find a raven singing. These ravens can also imitate other bird sounds and they use them to attract their flocks to join them for food.The feathers of both American crows and ravens are iridescent. Crow and raven flocks collect and reflect the light around them. Some people think that ravens are a smaller version of crows but on the contrary, ravens are larger than crows. In fact, there are 40 species of crows you can find with variations in size; some are smaller, some are larger and some are longer. You can also find an exclusive American bird in this family that measures around 17.5 in (44.4 cm). Last but not the least, rooks, on the other hand, are smaller than crows.Distinguishing Between The Sound That Grackles and Crows MakeGrackles and crows have many differences in body characteristics and also in dietary habits. But do grackles and crows sound the same?No. Grackles and crows definitely do not sound the same. They can be easily distinguished by just putting a short focus on the voice, tones and pitches of the bird. Crows are more vocal than grackles. Crows have a high-pitched tone that sounds like a ‘caw’. Caw is the common vocal voice that is known to everyone. Have you ever heard a jammed gate with rust on it which makes squeaky sounds while operating it? If you have heard it, you may notice a similarity between that squeaking gate sound and the sound that is made by the grackle.Grackles have a low-pitched tone. They even make some whistle noises, croaking sounds, or even high-pitched crack sounds. An awesome characteristic of crows is that crows tend to make fun of someone talking by mimicking the tone. Obviously, it won’t be that clear but it will surely make you burst into laughter.Luckily, grackles and crows are not endangered. However, a few types of each of the birds may be less frequently seen today. Birds are amazing creatures with awesome characteristics to know all about. Crows and grackles can be friendlier if treated well. Ravens are known to mimic the sounds of human speech. It is highly interesting to know these awesome facts about various species and creatures on Earth.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for ‘Grackle vs crow’ then why not take a look at ‘How long can a horse run?’ or ‘Can bearded dragons eat apples?’
Grackles and crows are confusing birds.
