Bobolink

Dolichonyx oryzivorus

Explore this bird

Identification

18 cm (7") Fairly common. Northern United States, southern Canada. Hayfields, weedy meadows; in migration, marshes.

Male: distinctive bird. Completely black below, mostly white above. Hindneck is buff but fades to white near end of summer.

Female or autumn Male: a rich buffy sparrow-like bird with dark stripes on crown, back, and sides.

In flight; white shoulders and rump conspicuous.

Sharply pointed tail feathers.

Song: bubbling "banjo-like" song given in hovering flight; flight call is a soft "ink".

Details in the field

2 photos

Watch and learn

2 videos

Bobolink Portrait

Credit: Larry Bond

Bobolink

Credit: Lang Elliott's Nature Channel

Where it lives

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

1 rule

Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 4

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
Was the RUMP or LOWER BACK light ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Sparrow-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall

result:975-bobolink-male:1:1 Source: 975 Bobolink (Male), row 1

1 rule

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 4

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Female · Unknown
Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: No · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: None · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?: Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
Was the HEAD striped ?: Yes · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Sparrow-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall

result:976-bobolink-female-or-autumn-male:1:1 Source: 976 Bobolink (Female or autumn Male), row 1