Carib Grackle
Quiscalus lugubris
Also known as: Blackbird
About This Species
A glossy black bird with a long, keel-shaped tail and pale yellow eye, common in towns, farmland and mangrove edges across the Caribbean and northern South America. It is a bold, opportunistic feeder often seen walking on open ground, around outdoor dining areas, or foraging in small noisy groups, and its harsh, varied calls are a familiar background sound in its range. It can be watched at almost any time of day in open habitats near people.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- This is a common, adaptable species that tolerates people well, but it is still best not to feed it deliberately, since habituation to handouts can change its behaviour and create conflict with people.
- Wildlife protection rules for native birds vary across the Caribbean islands and mainland countries where it occurs, so local regulations should be checked rather than assumed.
- Casual observation at a normal social distance is unlikely to cause it any disturbance.
LCAvesPasseriformesIcteridae
Seasonal Activity
193,771 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Icteridae
Photo
(c) Nicolas Olejnik, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Nicolas Olejnik
CC-BY-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.