Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus)


Group	Blackbirds
Code	ABPBXA9010
Order	Passeriformes
Family	Icteridae
Author	(Linnaeus, 1758)
Rank	G5 (definitions)
Occurrence	LM (definitions)
Scale	C (definitions)

County List:


Western UP	all
Eastern UP	all
Northern LP	all
Southern LP	all

Rule:

Mixed Forested/Nonforested and Nonforested Landscapes

      Small Grains/Forage Crops
      or Fields/Pasture

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Habitat List:

Habitats	Regen	Sap	Pole	Sm Saw	Lg Saw	Uneven
Aspen	no	no	no	no	no	-
Paper Birch	no	no	no	no	no	-
Oak	no	no	no	no	no	no
Assorted Hardwoods	no	no	no	no	no	no
Northern Hardwoods	no	no	no	no	no	no
Spruce/Fir	no	no	no	no	no	no
Hemlock	no	no	no	no	no	no
Jack Pine	no	no	no	no	no	no
Red Pine	no	no	no	no	no	no
White Pine	no	no	no	no	no	no
Conifer Plantations	no	no	no	no	no	-
Mixed Upland Hardwoods	no	no	no	no	no	no
Mixed Northern Hardwoods	no	no	no	no	no	no
Mixed Upland Conifer	no	no	no	no	no	no
Mixed Pine	no	no	no	no	no	no
Swamp Hardwoods	no	no	no	no	no	no
Balsam Poplar & Swamp Aspen & Swamp Birch	no	no	no	no	no	no
Bottomland Hardwoods	no	no	no	no	no	no
Tamarack	no	no	no	no	no	no
Northern White Cedar	no	no	no	no	no	no
Black Spruce	no	no	no	no	no	no
Mixed Lowland Hardwoods	no	no	no	no	no	no
Mixed Lowland Conifer	no	no	no	no	no	no
Non-Forested	Small Grains/Forage Crops, Fields/Pastures
Special Features	none

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Literature:

McPeek, G. A. 1991. Bobolink. Pages 492-493 In: R. Brewer, G. A. McPeek, and R. J. Adams, Jr. (eds.) The atlas of breeding birds of Michigan. Michigan State University Press, East Lansing. 594 pp.

Habitat: Bobolinks occupy meadows, hayfields, prairies, pastures, and other open fields containing lush grasses and herb cover. Currently in the eastern U.S., hayfields are the largest source of nesting habitat for this species. Old fields and hayfields were the most frequently recorded habitats for Bobolinks (79%) in the Atlas Habitat Survey, with some observations in pasture and open wetland. Examination of the old field types shows a greater use (80%) of fields with dense grass and herb cover and few small shrubs over fields with sparse ground cover or large shrubs. Dense ground vegetation, such as hay, clover, alfalfa, or weeds is preferred for concealment of their nests.

Bobolinks consume large quantities of insect pests and weed seeds, a diet which is beneficial to most farmers.

In late July and August, Bobolinks increase their use of open marshes and large groups of 70 to 90 birds may be observed.

DeGraaf, R. M. and D. D. Rudis. 1986. New England wildlife: habitat, natural history, and distribution. GTR NE-108. Broomall, PA:USDA, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 491 pp.

Habitat: Breeding: Hayfields, meadows, marshes, fallow fields. May prefer moist lowlands to uplands.

Special Habitat Requirements: Large expanses of grassland or forb cover.

Kaufman, K. 1996. Lives of North American Birds. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts. 675 pp.

Habitat: Hayfields, meadows. In migration, marshes. Original prime breeding areas were damp meadows and natural prairies with dense growth of grass and weeds and a few low bushes. Such habitats are still favored but hard to find, and today most Bobolinks in the Eastern United States nest in hayfields. Migrants stop over in fields and marshes, often feeding in rice fields.

Diet: Mostly insects and seeds. Majority of summer diet is insects, including beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, wasps, ants, and many others, also spiders and millipedes. Also eats many seeds of weeds, grasses, and grains. May feed more heavily on grain during migration, and in former times caused much damage in southern rice fields.

Nest: Placed on the ground (or rarely just above it), well hidden among dense grass and weeds. Typical ground nest is a slight depression holding a shallow open cup of grass and weed stems, lined with finer grasses.

Conservation Status: Declining significantly in recent decades; loss of nesting habitat is likely cause.