Bobolink
NameBobolink
Common NameBobolink
Scientific NameDolichonyx oryzivorus
FamilyIcteridae
Wingspan (cm)28
Length (cm)17
Weight (g)42
Plumage DetailsBreeding males are unmistakable with a black body, white scapulars (shoulders), a white lower back, and a distinctive creamy-yellow patch on the nape/hindneck. Females and non-breeding males are streaky brown and buff, resembling a large sparrow.
Vocalization / CallMales have a distinctive, complex, and bubbly song, often described as metallic and tinkling, sounding like 'bob-o-link, bob-o-link, spink-spank-spink'.
Primary Dietomnivore
Primary Habitatsgrassland
Conservation Statusnear-threatened
Geographic RangeBreeds across southern Canada and the northern United States; winters primarily in central South America, particularly in the grasslands of Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Brazil.
Identifying FeaturesMale's black body with white scapulars and creamy-yellow nape, Bubbly, complex song, Prefers open grasslands and hayfields
Description
The Bobolink is a medium-sized songbird known for the male's striking breeding plumage and bubbly, complex song. It is a migratory species that breeds in open grasslands and meadows across North America.
