Dolichonyx oryzivorus

Description

Male bobolinks are the only song birds in the United States that solid black underneath and white on top. It is said that it resembles a dress suit on backwards. They only look like that in the spring. Come autumn, they look like females; a rich buff-yellow with dark stripes on the crown and on the back. Their bill is more like that of a sparrow’s than a blackbird. They are larger than a house sparrow.

Voice

Very bubbly and fast; sounds like a spastic R2D2 from Star Wars.

Habitat

They are found in hayfields and meadows.

Diet

In the summer they eat insects and while wintering they will also eat seeds.

Range

They are found from Maine down to Florida, over to Texas and back up to Washington state.

Other Useful Information

Bobolinks are migrants and travel great distances each year. Round trip annually they travel approximately 12,500 miles.

Similar Species

Lark bunting (male) and red-winged blackbird (female).