Great-tailed Grackle - Dr. Dude Photography

Four Great-tailed Grackles on the ground near some scrub brush. — **Great-tailed Grackle, Falcon State Park, Roma, TX, April 18, 2021**
*Canon EOS Rebel T3i* with Tamron 150-600 mm lens; *400 mm; ISO-1250; f/10; 1/800 sec.*

This page is for the Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus). This species is common in Texas, especially South Texas. The March 25, 2014 photo is my first photographic evidence of this bird. The best photograph I have taken of the Great-tailed Grackle to date (above) was from April 18, 2021 at Falcon State Park, Roma, TX. These birds have a highly unusual call that as a co-worker put it “sounds like they are speaking an alien language.”

The following photographs are the best representative images from different dates and locations than my species representative example.

One male and two female Great-tailed Grackles standing on the railing of a boardwalk with an immature Reddish Egret standing near them. — **Great-tailed Grackle, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Austwell, TX, March 25, 2021**
*Canon EOS Rebel T3i* with Canon 18-135 mm lens; *135 mm; ISO-100; f/5.6; 1/250 sec.*

A couple of Great-tailed Grackles near the top of a tree with two squirrels nearby. — **Great-tailed Grackle, Clear Fork of the Trinity River and Hulen St., Fort Worth, TX, December 4, 2021**
*Canon EOS 5DS R* with Tamron 24-70 mm lens; *70 mm; ISO-100; f/4.5; 1/6400 sec.*

A Great-tailed Grackle flying nearby with trees in the background containing many more of them. — **Great-tailed Grackle, Clear Fork of the Trinity River and University Drive, Fort Worth, TX, December 4, 2021**
*Canon EOS 5DS R* with Tamron 24-70 mm lens; *70 mm; ISO-100; f/3.5; 1/1600 sec.*

About 20 Great-tailed Grackles in a grassy areas near a lake. Some are on the ground, some are landing, and some are flying. — **Great-tailed Grackle, Camp Joy Park, Fort Worth, TX, December 11, 2021**
*Canon EOS 5DS R* with Tamron 150-600 mm lens; *600 mm; ISO-2000; f/6.3; 1/2500 sec.*

Great-tailed Grackle flying high in the sky. — **Great-tailed Grackle, Clear Fork Trinity River and Bellaire, Fort Worth, TX, April 3, 2022**
*Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens; 500 mm; ISO-320; f/22; 1/250 sec.*

Great-tailed Grackle on a table puffed-up to impress a nearby female. — **Great-tailed Grackle, Calaveras Lake, San Antonio, TX, May 11, 2023**
*Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-400; f/10; 1/800 sec.*

Great-tailed Grackle perched in a tree and calling its alien-sounding call. — **Great-tailed Grackle, Victor Braunig Lake, San Antonio, TX May 11, 2023**
*Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-1600; f/10; 1/500 sec.*

Great-tailed Grackle perched near the top of a leafless tree. — **Great-tailed Grackle, San Joaquin Marsh, Irvine, CA, June 19, 2023**
*Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-800; f/11; 1/800 sec.*

Great-tailed Grackle perched on a wooden fence. — **Great-tailed Grackle, Vista West, Fort Worth, TX, January 15, 2024**
*Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-640; f/11; 1/500 sec.*

**Great-tailed Grackle, Oak Point Park, Plano, TX, January 21, 2024**
*Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-250; f/11; 1/800 sec.*

Female Great-tailed Grackle perched at the top of a dead tree. — **Great-tailed Grackle, Mustang Island, Port Aransas, TX, February 22, 2024**
*Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens; 700 mm; ISO-1000; f/11; 1/1000 sec. +1 Exposure Bias*

Female Great-tailed Grackle perched at the top of a small, dead tree. — **Great-tailed Grackle, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Austwell,, TX, February 24, 2024**
*Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens; 700 mm; ISO-1000; f/11; 1/1600 sec. -0.7 exposure bias*

Two male Great-tailed Grackles flying near some small, dead trees. — **Great-tailed Grackle, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Austwell, TX, February 24, 2024**
*Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens; 700 mm; ISO-1000; f/10; 1/2000 sec.*

Great-tailed Grackle perched in a small tree. — **Great-tailed Grackle, Lake Viridian, Arlington, TX, February 2, 2025**
*Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-400; f/11; 1/800 sec.*

Great-tailed Grackle perched in a small tree and eating something from the plant. — **Great-tailed Grackle, Lake Viridian, Arlington, TX, February 2, 2025**
*Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-400; f/11; 1/800 sec.*