Photo: Andrea Westmoreland from DeLand, United States / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Bobolink
Dolichonyx oryzivorus
Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.
Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) is a member of the Icteridae family found in North America. Adults weigh 31.5 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Icteridae Oropendolas, New World Orioles, Blackbirds
- Genus Dolichonyx
- Species oryzivorus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 31.5 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Icteridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Male vs female
Strongly dimorphic in breeding season: the male is black below with a white back and rump and a straw-buff (often called golden/yellow) nape, while the female is warm buffy-brown, streaked above and on the flanks, with bold blackish stripes on the crown.
Juvenile appearance
Juveniles resemble the buffy, streaked non-breeding female, warm buff below and fading to a paler belly with little or no streaking on the breast.
Breeding vs non-breeding
Non-breeding males molt in late summer to a female-like buff-and-brown streaked plumage, losing the bold black-and-white breeding pattern (the historic 'ricebird' look).
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Bobolink is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Bobolink is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) is a species of bird in the Icteridae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across North America. Its distribution covers NA s Canada and n USA.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 31.5 g, with a wing length of about 9 cm and a tail of around 6.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 3.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Bobolink?
The Bobolink is a small bird that weighs around 31.5 g.
Where does the Bobolink live?
The Bobolink is found across North America with a range covering NA s Canada and n USA, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Bobolink belong to?
The Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) belongs to the Icteridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Bobolink eat?
The Bobolink is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Bobolink migrate?
The Bobolink is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Bobolink endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Bobolink make?
1 real field recording of the Bobolink — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Bobolink's range?
The Bobolink has a mapped global range of about 3.9 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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