Knowledge Bank

A nesting study of the Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) on South Bass Island, Ohio, was completed during the 1964 and 1965 breeding seasons. The pair bond was achieved through two stages: (1) maintenance of contact between individuals of both sexes, and (2) acceptance of the male by the female. Multi-male "chase and leader" flights were conspicuous throughout the pair-formation period.

Length of time required for nest-building varied from seven days to eight weeks. The first egg was laid three days after the nest was completed. The eggs were laid between 0620 and 1000 hours at 24-hour intervals, and the clutch size was 4,7 eggs per nest.