The type of bird that is known for dancing back and forth is the bobolink. The bobolink is a small songbird that is found in North America. It gets its name from its unique mating display where the male bobolink dances and sings, moving its body forward and backward in an elaborate dance to attract a female mate.
Description of the Bobolink
The bobolink is about 6-7 inches in length and weighs approximately 1-1.5 ounces. It has a short bill and a long, pointed tail. The male bobolink has a black head, back, and underparts, with a light yellowish-brown patch on its nape. The rump is white, and the wings show an intricate pattern of black, white, and buff. The female bobolink is mostly light brown, with streaking on the back and striping on the underparts. She has a grayish-yellow head and nape. The juveniles resemble the female but are more distinctly streaked.
Geographic Range and Habitat
Bobolinks breed in open grasslands across much of North America. Their breeding range stretches from Nova Scotia west to British Columbia in Canada, and throughout the northern and central United States from the Rocky Mountains to the East Coast. The grasslands they prefer include hayfields, pastures, meadows, and prairies. During the winter months, bobolinks migrate in large flocks to southern South America in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay.
Unique Display Flight of the Male
The most distinguishing characteristic of the bobolink is the male’s amazing courtship flight display. When breeding season arrives in May and June, the male bobolink performs a special song-dance called the “dawn song” to attract mates. Perched on a tall stalk of grass or herb, he begins with soft warbling notes that gradually blend into a cascade of bubbling noises and bell-like tones.
As the sounds increase in intensity, the male flies up about 50 feet in the air and then floats down slowly while singing an effervescent melody. This stunning aerial show may last for over 10 minutes before the male returns to his perch to repeat the performance. The “dawn song” is so vigorous that a male bobolink loses significant weight after a long mating season of dancing and singing while expending maximum energy to find a female partner.
Diet and Foraging
Bobolinks forage primarily on the ground or in vegetation in open fields and prairies. They mainly eat seeds and grains such as rice, oats, wheat, millet, and barley. They also consume many insects especially during nesting season when feeding their young. Caterpillars and grasshoppers are common prey. Bobolinks occasionally eat small berries and other fruits as well. They forage in small flocks outside of breeding season.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Bobolinks arrive at their breeding grounds in northern regions starting in May. Males establish nesting territories and immediately begin the dawn song and courtship flights to attract a mate. Females build a well-hidden cup nest low in dense grasses, laying 3-7 eggs. She incubates the eggs for 11-14 days until they hatch.
Both parents work together to feed the nestlings a diet of insects and seeds. The young fledge from the nest at 10-14 days old. Bobolinks usually raise one brood per mating season. However, they may produce two broods in southern parts of their range where the season is longer. After breeding, bobolinks gather in large flocks to migrate back to South America in July and August. Their lifespan is typically 5-6 years.
Relationship to Humans
Bobolinks prefer wide open grassy areas, so they adapted well to colonization of North America when forests were cleared for agriculture. The expansion of hayfields, pastures and meadows provided ideal nesting habitat. However, today most of their breeding habitat is on private farmlands. Hay harvesting during nesting season can destroy eggs and young, and is a major threat to bobolink populations. Pesticides reduce their food supply of insects.
Bobolinks are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act but habitat loss and degradation continues to cause declines across their range. Conservation programs that delay hay mowing, restrict pesticides, or create suitable habitat have aided bobolink recovery in some regions. More action is still needed to ensure stable long-term populations of this iconic grassland songbird.
Key Facts
| Scientific Name | Dolichonyx oryzivorus |
| Family | Icteridae (blackbirds) |
| Identifying traits | Male has black head, back, and underparts, with buffy nape and white rump |
| Size | 6-7 in (15-18 cm) |
| Wingspan | 10-11 in (25-28 cm) |
| Weight | 0.9-1.5 oz (24-42 g) |
| Lifespan | 5-6 years |
| Diet | Seeds, grains, insects |
| Range | Breeds: Canada and U.S. Winters: South America |
| Habitat | Grasslands, hayfields, meadows, prairies |
| Unique Trait | Elaborate mating “dawn song” display flight |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a bobolink look like?
The male bobolink has striking black and white plumage. He has a black head, back, and underparts, with a light tan patch on the neck. The rump is bright white, and the wings are patterned black and buff. Females are mostly light brown with streaking.
Why is the bobolink called the bobolink?
The name “bobolink” is said to come from its bubbling song that sounds like “bob-o-link” being repeated over and over. The species name “oryzivorus” refers to its appetite for rice or “oryza.”
Where do bobolinks live?
Bobolinks are found in open grassy areas across much of North America during breeding season. Their range stretches from Canada south to the northern and central United States in meadows, fields, prairies, and pastures. They migrate to southern South America in winter.
What does the bobolink mating dance look like?
The male performs a dazzling courtship flight called the “dawn song.” He flies high up singing, then floats back down to the ground while belting out a melodic, bubbly tune. This intricate aerial dance and song last for up to 10 minutes to attract a female.
Why are bobolinks declining?
Habitat loss, hay harvesting during nesting, and pesticides have caused bobolink populations to decrease over the past decades. Conservation programs to protect habitat and delay mowing have aided recovery in some areas.
Conclusion
The bobolink is a small vibrant songbird best known for the male’s elaborate mating display flight and song. This unique courtship behavior involves the male flying high up and cascading down to the ground while singing a bubbly, melodic tune. Loss of open grassland habitat has led to declining bobolink populations across parts of North America. Protecting suitable nesting areas and limiting mowing during breeding season can help conserve these captivating grassland songbirds into the future. The bobolink’s bubbly song and dancing flight display add joy and excitement to meadows and fields during springtime.
