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Bobolink

Dolichonyx oryzivorusOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Blackbirds and Orioles (Icteridae)

Breeding Location:

Grasslands, Meadows, grassy



Breeding Type:

Polygamous



Breeding Population:

Fairly common to common



Egg Color:

White, blotched with brown, purple, and lavender



Number of Eggs:

4 - 7



Incubation Days:

13



Egg Incubator:

Female



Nest Material:

Lined with plant material., Grasses



Migration:

Migratory



Splitbar

Overview

Bobolink: Small, lark-like blackbird, all-black except for buff nape, white rump, and white wing patches. Tertials and wing coverts are lined with buff. Tail feathers are sharply pointed. Legs and feet are gray. Eats caterpillars, insects, seeds and grains. Strong undulating flight.

Range and Habitat

Bobolink: Breeds from southern British Columbia across southern Canada to Nova Scotia and south to eastern Oregon, central Colorado, central Illinois, western Virginia, and western North Carolina. Spends winters in southern South America. Preferred habitats include prairies and meadows; stays on marshes during migration.

Breeding and Nesting

Bobolink: Four to seven white eggs blotched with brown, purple, and lavender are laid in a cup of grass lined with fine plant materials. Nest is built in a ground depression covered with tall vegetation. Female incubates eggs for about 13 days.

Foraging and Feeding

Bobolink: In summer, eats insects and seeds; in winter mostly seeds; forages on the ground and in low vegetation.

Vocalization

Bobolink: Male sings a bright bubbly song while in flight, starting with low reedy notes and rollicking upward "bob-o-link, bob-o-link, pink, pink, pank, pink." Call is clear "pink."

Similar Species

Bobolink: Lark Bunting has yellow nape, white rump, and lacks a white wing patch. Female Bobolink is similar to Grasshopper Sparrow but is larger and has streaked flanks.

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Family
Species Dolichonyx oryzivorus
Length6.25 - 8 Inches
Wingspan11.375 Inches

Bobolink

Bobolink: Small, lark-like blackbird, all-black except for buff nape, white rump, and white wing patches. Tertials and wing coverts are lined with buff. Tail feathers are sharply pointed. Legs and feet are gray. Eats caterpillars, insects, seeds and grains. Strong undulating flight.

● Song: "bob-o-link, bob-o-link, pink, pink, pank, pink"

● Foraging & Feeding: Bobolink: In summer, eats insects and seeds; in winter mostly seeds; forages on the ground and in low vegetation.

● Breeding & nesting: Bobolink: Four to seven white eggs blotched with brown, purple, and lavender are laid in a cup of grass lined with fine plant materials. Nest is built in a ground depression covered with tall vegetation. Female incubates eggs for about 13 days.

● Similar species: Bobolink: Lark Bunting has yellow nape, white rump, and lacks a white wing patch. Female Bobolink is similar to Grasshopper Sparrow but is larger and has streaked flanks.

Flight Pattern

Strong undeviating and slightly undulating flight on rapidly beating wings.
Bobolink Breeding Adult Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Bobolink: Breeds from southern British Columbia across southern Canada to Nova Scotia and south to eastern Oregon, central Colorado, central Illinois, western Virginia, and western North Carolina. Spends winters in southern South America. Preferred habitats include prairies and meadows; stays on marshes during migration.
BreedingPolygamous
PopulationFairly common to common
MigrationMigratory
Weight1.7 Ounces