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Dolichonyx oryzivorus


They spend the summer in Northern North America and Canada and the winter in South America.


They are found in open fields and flocking near marshlands.

Body Traits

They have a black front, wings and tail. Their rump is white and they have wing patches. They have a sandy yellow patch on the back of their head. They are lighter on top than underneath. They have a short, cone-shaped bill. Females are dull brown with streaks.


Bobolinks group together most of the year. They sit on fence posts or any high perch over a meadow and sing.


Bobolinks eat mostly seeds on the ground, but while they are breeding may eat insects and worms.



Bobolinks nest in small groups. The female builds a nest of grass on the ground hidden in the high grass. She lays 3-7 eggs, which she warms (incubates) for about 2 weeks.



Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vetebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Icteridae
Genus: Dolichonyx
Species: D. oryzivorus

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Amsel, Sheri. "Bobolink" Exploring Nature Educational Resource ©2005-2021. May 17, 2021