Great-tailed Grackle

Quiscalus mexicanus

This large grackle has shown a dramatic population increase and range expansion throughout the western United States, particularly in the Great Plains. The first documented evidence of Great-tailed Grackles in Missouri was a specimen collected at Bigelow Marsh in Holt County in 1976 (Robbins 1977). The first documented breeding record was at a cattail marsh next to Big Lake State Park in Holt County in 1979 (Robbins and Easterla 1986). Great-tailed Grackles breed in cattails (Typha spp.), other emergent vegetation and willow thickets in wetlands, especially if adjacent to agricultural fields or human habitation (Ehrlich et al. 1988). Farm ponds and large wetlands such as Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge also provide appropriate habitat in Missouri.

Code Frequency

Although Great-tailed Grackles are easily detected and identified, they are colonial in appropriate marsh habitat and could have been missed during the Atlas Project. Once located, however, Great-tailed Grackles were easily confirmed to breed. Therefore, the blocks in which possible breeding was recorded may not represent actual breeding sites but may involve vagrants or unmated individuals.

Distribution

The Great-tailed Grackle's Missouri range centers in the Osage Plains. Atlasers also detected them along the state's western border in Buchanan, Holt and Newton counties. Observations in Harrison, Johnson, Lafayette and Macon counties provided additional evidence for the continued eastward expansion of this species in Missouri. At most of these locations they bred in wetland vegetation, most commonly cattails. This species has recently been documented to breed as far east as Boone County (McKenzie 1996).

Phenology

Great-tailed Grackles begin to reappear in Missouri at the end of February and their numbers increase and peak in late March and early April (Robbins and Easterla 1992). Nests detected with young and fledglings on June 14 and July 14, respectively, may have represented second broods. Ehrlich et al. (1988) reported that Great-tailed Grackles produce two and, occasionally, three broods a season.

Breeding Evidence

Reported in 37 (3.1%) of 1,207 blocks

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