The common grackle is one such bird. A type of blackbird, the common grackle is distinguished by its long, pointed beak and dark feathers, shimmering with hints of navy and forest green.

There is a large family of birds belonging to the blackbird family, but an invasive species often causes confusion.

However, their broad, fan-shaped tails set them apart. Their heads are flat, not rounded like boat-tailed grackles. These birds are common from Texas and Oklahoma to southern California.

Common grackles show more complex and brighter iridescence patterns than the Brewer’s, with a characteristic abrupt break in color from the head iridescence to that of the body. Breeding Bird ...