Symbolic Grackle Meaning and Messages

Last Updated on July 27, 2021 by Avia

Exploring Grackle Meaning, Messages, and Wisdom: As a native Texan, I am no stranger to the grackle. Sure, they can be found just about everywhere in North America, but where I lived in Texas seemed to be some sort of grackle-vortex. They would turn the sky black with their legions..interestingly, a group of grackles is called (sadly) ‘a plague’ or an ‘annoyance.’ This is a perfect lead-in for grackle meaning and messages because, with the exception of a few devotees of the grackle, they typically have a bad rap.

Lots of folks badmouth the grackle for their playground-ruffian attitudes, dizzying noisy displays and even pooping in the pool. Thankfully, the symbolic grackle meaning wouldn’t be what it is if it weren’t for these badass qualities. Here are a few thoughts about how the grackle can proffer some valuable life-lessons.

Life-Lessons and Symbolic Grackle Meaning

Grackles are opportunistic birds…and sometimes they can be quite the bullies of the bird realm. They are known to attack other birds’ nests in order to make their own brood. For example, they’ve been seen kicking out eggs laid in robin’s nests and shooing away mother robins in order to squat and retain the nest for their own. They are also extremely possessive of all things. From food to forage, grackles will fight to the tooth for what they deem is theirs. These behaviors (symbolically) beg the following questions from us:

What are you fighting for?
Are you killing elements in your life in order to gain control and power in other areas?
Are you sacrificing the survival and growth in areas of your life (or in other’s lives) in order to attain greater dominance?
How do you feel about resources? Do you believe they are finite and you have to fight to gain (or retain) resources such as money, food, love, etc?

A Word About Resources and Lessons from the Grackle

Sometimes seeing certain birds such as the grackle is a message to reform our behavior. In this instance, perhaps the grackle is a sign that it’s time to rethink how we obtain resources, attention, security, comfort, ownership, etc. To explain, if we come from a mentality of lack, and feel we need to fight or kick out the competition in order to gain ” _____ ” (whatever it is you want to possess)…then that’s a flawed view…at least in terms of our ability to manifest energetically.

Now, I don’t want to go all ‘law of attraction‘ on you here, but I will say this: It’s been proven time and again that a proper mindset is critical to magnetizing resources. When you think in terms of lack and meagerness, then that’s pretty much what you can expect, and you’ll keep kicking eggs out of everybody else’s nests. However, if you approach whatever you’re working towards with a mindset that goes something like “There is plenty available to me. Abundance is everywhere.” you’re far more likely to attain the resources to build your own nest.

This really is true…the universe is infinite and holds equally endless resources. We are a microcosm (the small version) of the universe (which is the macrocosm – the big version). If we see ourselves as a cosmic reflection of the universe, then by association we (and our ability to manifest resources) is infinite too.

More Grackle Meanings and Messages

While grackles are often maligned for being kind of jerks when it comes to pushing little birds away from bird feeders and other bullying tactics – it’s important to know they’re just doing what comes natural – and they’re not always the perceived Biff Tannen’s (“McFly!!!”) in the yard. In fact, grackles can be extremely resourceful without pushing or shoving. Here are some examples and more grackle meanings that can serve as keen messages for us…

Got Nuts?: Grackles do. They have a special adaptation in their beak that allows them to hack into acorns and other nuts that are a struggle for other birds to crack open. Again, the is a grackle message about resources but also about using the talents you are born with to crack your own nuts (errr..I mean, solve our own problems).

C’mon Feel the Noise: Yes, I think I’m rather clever by referencing the Quiet Riot song here because grackles get “wild, wild, wild!” with their raucous, bawdy vocals. When they descended in droves where I lived in Texas, I could almost feel the noise they projected across the land. What’s up with all that ruckus? It has to do with communication, but of an amorous kind. Most of their squeaks and tweets are all about wooing mates. What’s the grackle meaning and message for us in this? When it comes to wooing we’ve got to speak up. As moms say every day….”use your words!”…communication is a gift, and it’s the best way to express our feelings of love to one another.

Alright, Who Pooped in the Pool?: Blame the grackles! Many a homeowner has bemoaned the arrival of grackles because they have a reputation for dumping their baby’s doo-doo droppings in the pool. It’s nothing personal. It’s actually their way of removing the odors of their brood to throw predators off the scent of their young. In natural settings, grackles toss their hatchlings waste in rivers where it then is moved downstream. What could possibly be the message in this? If nothing else, it’s a sign that if we’re dealing with some stinky poop in our lives, it’s time to wash it away. Consider the stuff that is no longer serving you or clogging up your life and visualize dumping it in a metaphorical river and wash it wash away from your energy.

Ants in Your Pants: Grackles have a clever trick called “anting” – it’s when they sit and rub their bums on anthills. Why in the world? Well, this action disturbs the ants, prompting them to sting at the grackles which emit formic acid. Grackles use this acid as a kind of protection from bacteria and other bugs, essentially keeping them clean from creepy crawlies. So what’s our sign here? It’s a lesson in turning lemons into lemonade (or acid into acid-ade? Err, you know)…it’s about taking the stinging things in life and using them to our advantage.

Closing Thoughts About Grackle Wisdom

Okay, so beauty might be in the eye of the beholder when it comes to the grackle. Personally, I think they are kick-ass birds, and replete with meaningful messages. If you’re not a fan of grackles, then I hope this article on grackle meaning, messages, and wisdom might make you change your tune. At the very least, I hope your next encounter with grackles might make you stop and think how they can be harbingers of potential life-lessons for you. As always, thanks for reading!

Mighty brightly,