Color Online - Range Map

My first sighting of a Bobolink occurred in 1996 as I was driving through a remote rural road in central Maine. As I came to a clearing amidst the endless groves of boreal forests, a beautiful clearing came into view with a substantial length of barbed wired fence. I had passed by the clearing many times and had frequently observed American Kestrels perched upon the wires in the clearing. One day, however, I noticed a mostly black bird with a conspicuous white rump and light patch on its neck fly from the wooden fence post as I drove by. It was my first bobolink! Although I watched the bobolink in the clearing for most of the summer, that Bobolink remains the only one I have ever seen.

Description/Range/Habitat: The Bobolink is locally common throughout southern Canada and the northern part of the United States in open country, hayfields, rice fields and farmlands. The Bobolink is black throughout with a conspicuous golden or light yellow patch on its nape, a white patch and white markings on the wings, and a white or buff rump. The bobolink is often referred to as "Rice Bird" by farmers. Females and winter males are largely brown and resemble large sparrows. Bobolinks often migrate in large flocks with other blackbirds,

Status/Diet: Bobolink populations have declined recently because of reforestation and loss of hayfield habitat. The cutting of hayfields before young bobolinks fledge has had a devastating impact on populations. Bobolinks have been hunted in the past to protect rice crops. Bobolinks eat insects and grains.