This grackle lives in marshes, lake edges, riverside areas, pastures, and flooded scrub. It travels and forages in groups ranging from small parties to large flocks. In Nicaragua, it also occurs along large-lake shores and nearby wetlands.
The adult male is black overall with a strong purple gloss. The female has an olive-brown crown and face and paler underparts than the male. The iris is pale yellow, and the bill and legs are black.
It nests in trees overlooking marshes or among grasses in swamp vegetation. The sturdy cup is woven from strips of grass or reed leaves and roots. It lays 2–3 blue eggs with dark brown or black spots. It breeds from March through September and forages in groups ranging from small parties to large flocks.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.