In August, meadowlarks abandon their breeding territories and forage in small flocks. In September and October most shift southward, migrating at night and feeding during the day. Some meadowlarks winter in eastern and western Pennsylvania, although most go farther south. The population has declined in the Northeast over the past 40 years as development has wiped out agricultural land and formerly farmed areas have grown up into brush and woods. Grackles are sleek black birds with iridescent purple, green and bronze highlights in their plumage.
Adults are about one foot in length and have long wedge-shape tails.
Grackles live in suburbs, towns, farming areas and streamside groves. In spring, males display in front of females by raising their bills, fluffing out their feathers, spreading their tails, and singing a loud, ascending reedeleek . Unlike most other songbirds, grackles remain social throughout the year. Most nest in colonies of 10 to 30 pairs, usually in evergreen trees, where mated pairs defend only a small area right around their nest. Grackles nest from April into July.