Approximate Hatch Weights:
~5.6g at hatching
~58g by 11 days old
Gains ~5g/day
Males ~68g at fledging
Females ~63g at fledging
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Icteridae
Common Name: Grackles/Blackbirds
Region: Eastern
Chick Type: Altricial
Down: Sparse gray down
Skin Color: Pink to yellow
Bill: Straight and pale brown
Foot Type: Anisodactyl
Gape: Red
Gape Flanges: White
Iris: Dark brown
Legs and Feet: Pink to brown legs and feet
Video by Connie Black
Video by Lisa Johnson, Tufts Wildlife Clinic
Video by Dane County Humane Society’s Wildlife Center
Video by Ben Adams
Video from The Wildlife Center of Virginia
Video from Tufts Wildlife Clinic
~1st Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/02/fullsizeoutput_2b09.jpeg)
Photo by Dane County Humane Society's Wildlife Center
1 Day Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-9.41.22-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
1 Day Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-9.43.26-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
1 Day Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-9.42.15-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
1 Day Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-9.44.23-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
2 Days Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-9.47.59-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
2 Days Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-9.46.57-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
2 Days Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-9.45.29-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
3 Days Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-9.51.42-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
3 Days Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-9.50.26-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
3 Days Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-9.49.33-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
3 Days Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-9.48.42-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
4 Days Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-9.52.33-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
4 Days Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-9.53.15-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
~1st Week - avg 16g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2020/04/91376535_1490000207849451_5797283771661156352_n.jpeg)
Photo by Nikki Becich, Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia
~1st Week - avg 16g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2020/04/91909354_291364051853332_3704308090485604352_n.jpeg)
Photo by Nikki Becich, Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia
~1st Week - avg 16g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2020/04/91316090_2963997703623021_4829336548463869952_n.jpeg)
Photo by Nikki Becich, Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia
5 Days Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-9.54.03-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
5 Days Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-9.54.54-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
5 Days Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-9.55.58-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
5 Days Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-9.56.52-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
~1st Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2022/02/baby-grackles-1.jpg)
Photo from The Wildlife Center of Virginia
~1st Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2022/02/baby-grackles-5-scaled.jpg)
Photo from The Wildlife Center of Virginia
~1st Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/05/fullsizeoutput_396d.jpeg)
Photo by Nikki Becich, Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia
~1st Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/05/fullsizeoutput_3967.jpeg)
Photo by Nikki Becich, Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia
~1st Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/05/fullsizeoutput_3964.jpeg)
Photo by Nikki Becich, Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia
6 Days Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-9.59.41-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
6 Days Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-10.01.31-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
6 Days Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-10.00.28-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
~1st Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2022/02/baby-grackles-6-scaled.jpg)
Photo from The Wildlife Center of Virginia
7 Days Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-10.02.35-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
~2nd Week - 44g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/05/IMG_4361.jpg)
Photo from New England Wildlife Center
~2nd Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/IMG_2631.jpg)
Photo by Annie Le, Tufts Wildlife Clinic
8 Days Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-10.11.24-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
~2nd Week - avg 30g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2022/02/IMG_1794.jpg)
Photo from The Wildlife Center of Virginia
Common Grackle ~2nd Week - 56g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/07/fullsizeoutput_4116.jpeg)
Photo by Christina Huppe
~2nd Week - 56g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/07/fullsizeoutput_411e.jpeg)
Photo by Christina Huppe
~2nd Week - 56g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/07/fullsizeoutput_411c.jpeg)
Photo by Christina Huppe
~2nd Week - 56g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/07/fullsizeoutput_411a.jpeg)
Photo by Christina Huppe
~2nd Week - 41g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2020/04/IMG_1381-scaled.jpeg)
Photo from Tufts Wildlife Clinic, grid squares = 1 inch
~2nd Week - 41g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2020/04/IMG_1383.jpeg)
Photo from Tufts Wildlife Clinic, grid squares = 1 inch
~2nd Week - 41g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2020/04/IMG_1385.jpeg)
Photo from Tufts Wildlife Clinic, grid squares = 1 inch
9 Days Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-10.12.16-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
9 Days Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-10.13.04-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
9 Days Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-10.13.51-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
~2nd Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2022/02/IMG_1834.jpg)
Photo from The Wildlife Center of Virginia
10 Days Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-10.14.56-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
10 Days Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-10.16.13-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
11 Days Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-10.17.42-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
11 Days Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-10.18.47-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
12 Days Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-10.20.18-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
13 Days Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-10.21.23-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
13 Days Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-10.22.31-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
~2nd Week - 47g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2020/04/IMG_4479.jpeg)
Photo from Tufts Wildlife Clinic, grid squares = 1 inch
14 Days Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-10.23.23-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
14 Days Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-10.24.41-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
14 Days Old
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-03-18-at-10.25.38-AM.jpg)
Photo by Connie Black
~2nd Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/02/fullsizeoutput_2b0a.jpeg)
Photo by Dane County Humane Society's Wildlife Center
~3rd Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/05/fullsizeoutput_3955.jpeg)
Photo by Nikki Becich, Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia
~3rd Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/05/fullsizeoutput_3958.jpeg)
Photo by Nikki Becich, Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia
~3rd Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/IMG_2651.jpg)
Photo from Tufts Wildlife Clinic
~3rd Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/IMG_7854.jpg)
Photo by Selimah Harmon
~3rd Week - 70g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2020/04/IMG_4487-1.jpeg)
Photo from Tufts Wildlife Clinic, grid squares = 1 inch
~3rd Week - 70g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2020/04/IMG_4488-1.jpeg)
Photo from Tufts Wildlife Clinic, grid squares = 1 inch
>4 Weeks
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/11/fullsizeoutput_4bc0.jpeg)
Photo from the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota
>4 Weeks
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/11/fullsizeoutput_4bc4.jpeg)
Photo from the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota
>4 Weeks
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/11/fullsizeoutput_4bc6.jpeg)
Photo from the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota