Bird field guide · New World Blackbirds and Orioles

Photographing the Boat-tailed Grackle

How to photograph the Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major): the right lens for its size, shutter speeds for perched and moving animals, and when it's most often seen (March and April).

17–45 cm1/2500–1/3200 s
Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major)
Photo: © DickDaniels, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) via iNaturalist
17–45 cm
Typical length (family range)
1/800 s
Shutter: perched / still
1/2500–1/3200 s
Shutter: action / flight
f/5.6–f/7.1
Aperture
37,610
Research-grade sightings in N. America
ModeManual + Auto ISOLock shutter & aperture, let ISO float
Shutter (still)1/800 s
Shutter (action)1/2500–1/3200 s
Aperturef/5.6–f/7.1
FocusAF-C + subject/eye detectionBird-eye AF with continuous focus (AF-C/AI Servo); fill at least a third of the frame.
DriveHigh-speed burst
Lens300–500 mmFull-frame equivalent

Focal length needed to frame it#

For a subject about 31 cm long filling a third or half of the frame width horizontally.

Distance⅓ of frame (FF)½ of frame (FF)⅓ of frame (APS-C)⅓ of frame (MFT)
5 m (16 ft)185 mm274 mm123 mm92 mm
10 m (33 ft)369 mm549 mm246 mm185 mm
15 m (49 ft)554 mm823 mm369 mm277 mm
20 m (66 ft)738 mm1,098 mm492 mm369 mm
30 m (98 ft)1,107 mm1,646 mm738 mm554 mm
50 m (164 ft)1,845 mm2,744 mm1,230 mm923 mm

When to find it#

Jan: 8% Jan Feb: 9% Feb Mar: 14% Mar Apr: 14% Apr May: 10% May Jun: 8% Jun Jul: 6% Jul Aug: 5% Aug Sep: 6% Sep Oct: 7% Oct Nov: 6% Nov Dec: 8% Dec
Share of iNaturalist observations by month across North America. Peak months: March and April.

About the Boat-tailed Grackle#

The boat-tailed grackle (Quiscalus major) is a passerine bird of the family Icteridae found as a permanent resident on the coasts of the southeastern United States. It is found in coastal saltwater marshes, and, in Florida, also on inland waters. The nest is a well-concealed cup in trees or shrubs near water; three to five eggs are laid.

Summary adapted from Wikipedia via iNaturalist (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Field-craft tips#

  • Marsh blackbirds display on cattails in spring.
  • Bird-eye AF with continuous focus (AF-C/AI Servo); fill at least a third of the frame.
  • Sightings peak in March and April, which is when you'll have the most chances.

Ethics#

  • The welfare of the animal comes first: if it changes its behaviour because of you, you are too close.
  • Stay on trails, respect closures around nests, leks, dens and haul-outs.
  • Avoid playback and baiting in sensitive seasons; never bait predators.
  • Don't share precise locations of rare, nesting or roosting animals publicly.

More New World Blackbirds and Orioles#

Red-winged Blackbird Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceus Great-tailed Grackle Great-tailed GrackleQuiscalus mexicanus Common GrackleQuiscalus quiscula Brown-headed Cowbird Brown-headed CowbirdMolothrus ater Baltimore Oriole Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbula Brewer's Blackbird Brewer's BlackbirdEuphagus cyanocephalus Hooded Oriole Hooded OrioleIcterus cucullatus Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglecta

Frequently asked questions#

What lens do I need to photograph a Boat-tailed Grackle?

At about 31 cm long, a boat-tailed grackle fills a third of a full-frame image at 10 m with roughly 369 mm, or at 20 m with 738 mm.

What shutter speed should I use for a Boat-tailed Grackle?

1/800 s when it's still; 1/2500–1/3200 s for action.

When is the best time to photograph a Boat-tailed Grackle?

Observations in North America peak in March and April. Early morning and late afternoon give the best light and activity.

Sources & licences#

Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources