Bobolink

Birds of North America

Dolichonyx oryzivorus

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A back view of a female Bobolink in a pasture on Amherst Island, near Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

A female Bobolink sitting on a fence post along a hayfield in Luskville, Quebec, Canada.

A male Bobolink along the beaches in Miami, returning from its winter range, Florida, USA.

A back view of a male Bobolink as it displays on the top of a fence post in Manotick, near Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

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Life, Habitat & Pictures of the Bobolink

Name	B L	W W	W	Family	Latin Name
Bobolink	7" 17.80cm	11.5" 29.20cm	1.5oz 42.53g	Icteridae	Dolichonyx oryzivorus

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Bobolink

Written by; Bruce Di Labio

French: Goglu des prés

The male Bobolink is one North America’s songbirds, easily recognized by its entirely black underparts contrasting with a black and yellow pattern above. In spring, it delivers an ecstatic, bubbling, ramble of song, whereas during fall migration the flight call changes to a soft “pink-pink”.

During the breeding season, the Bobolink is restricted to grassland habitat and hayfields across most of southern Canada and northern United States. An early fall migrant, it begins to flock in early July and is noted for its extraordinarily long migration to Argentina, an annual return distance of approximately 20,000 km.

The Bobolink’s name come from the Greek “Dilichonyx” meaning “long-clawed” and the Latin “oryzivorus” for “rice eater”. In the south, these birds were once known as “ricebirds” where they occasionally caused serious damage to rice fields. In more northern regions, the Bobolink’s diet consists of insects, beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, spiders as well as seeds of weeds, grasses and grains.

Nests are located on the ground in fields of dense grasses or weeds, well hidden from sight. The shallow nest is made from grass and weeds. The female typically lays 5-6 pale, reddish-brown eggs that are heavily blotched with brown and lavender. The female incubates the eggs for 11-13 days and both parents feed the young. Nestlings leave the nest about 8-14 days after hatching often before they are able to fly. There can be a high mortality of young in areas where there is early cutting and harvesting of hay.

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Classic Collection of North American Birds

CCNAB