There are three species of grackles in Texas: Common, Boat-tailed and Great-tailed. There are similarities and, unless you are a birdwatcher, a grackle is a grackle is a grackle. There are also three species of crows in Texas: American, fish and Tamaulipas. The same applies to them, they appear very similar to the average person. The fish crow is mostly found along the eastern coastline and the Tamaulipas crow is only found around Brownsville.

 

American crow- Has a long heavy bill and fan shaped tail. They are approximately 17.5 in. in overall length. Their call is the familiar "caw". They have overall black plumage with a black eye.

Fish crow- They are similar to the American crow except smaller (15.5 in.) and have a more nasal call. Mostly found in E. TX and E. TX coastal areas.

 

Tamaulipas crow- They are smaller than the American crow. Their range is limited to extreme southeast Texas.

 

 

Common grackle- Common grackles are about 12.5 in. in overall length, have a long keel-shaped tail and pale yellow eyes. The heads, necks and breasts of the males have an iridescent purple cast to them. The bill is long but far thinner than a crow. Females are smaller and a duller brown color. They are mostly found in the eastern half of the state.

Boat-tailed grackle- Boat-tailed grackles are about 16.5 in. in length and have a very long keel-shaped tail. The males are iridescent blue-black. Their eyes a usually yellow to brown. They are common mostly along the coast. Females are tawny brown.

 

Great-tailed grackle- Great-taileds are the largest grackle, about 18 in. in length with a very long keel-shaped tail. Males have iridescent black and purple on the head, back and underparts. They have golden yellow eyes. Females are brown with buff to grayish underparts.

 

 

Most grackle calls are a mixed series of rattles, squeaks and whistles. The best way to tell grackles from crows is overall size, crows are larger bodied, and eye color, grackles have yellow eyes, crows have black eyes.