The Bobolink is a small songbird native to North America. It is known for its unique plumage and bubbly song. But where did it get its interesting name? Let’s explore the possible origins of the name “Bobolink.”
What is a Bobolink?
The Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) is a medium-sized blackbird that breeds in grasslands across central and eastern North America. Males are mostly black in color with light brown napes and white scapulars. Females and juveniles have a more muted brown coloration. Their most distinguishing feature is the male’s bubbling, rollicking song, from which they get their common name.
Bobolinks build cup-shaped nests on the ground in dense grass cover. Clutch sizes range from 5-6 eggs. Both parents share brooding and feeding duties. Bobolinks mainly eat seeds and grains but feed insects to their young. They migrate in large flocks to southern South America in the winter.
Bobolinks can be found in hayfields, meadows, grassy marshes, and fields of small grains like rice, oats, and wheat. Their populations have declined in recent decades due to habitat loss and degradation on their breeding grounds in North America. They are considered a threatened species in some parts of their range.
Origins of the name “Bobolink”
There are a few different theories about the origin of the unusual name “Bobolink.” Here are some of the most popular explanations:
Imitative of its song
The most common explanation is that “Bobolink” is an imitation of the bird’s bubbly, jabbering song. Early American naturalists thought the song sounded like the bird was saying “Bob-o’-Lincoln” or “Bob-o’-Link.” The name stuck as an onomatopoeic representation of the sound.
Derived from “Bob-o-Lincoln”
One related theory is that the name comes from “Bob-o’-Lincoln,” an old nickname for the bird, likely referencing British ornithologist Robert Linnaeus. He was an early writer who mentioned the species in 1766 under the scientific name Emberiza oryzivora. The folksy nickname “Bob-o’-Lincoln” morphed into “Bobolink.”
Named after Robert of Lincoln
Another traditional explanation is that the Bobolink was named for a 12th century prior of Lincoln Cathedral in England known as Robert or Robin. According to legend, he was very fond of the birds. This story was popularized by the 1902 novel The Bobolink: A Little Wanderer by American writer Fannie Hardy Eckstorm.
Native American words
Some sources suggest the name comes from Native American terms like “po-po-link” (Algonquin) or “bublink” (Narragansett) which were said to phonetically imitate the bird’s call. Early European settlers may have adapted these indigenous words.
Derived from “rice bird”
Another claim is that “Bobolink” was originally “Bob-o’-link” derived from “rice bird” or “reed bird.” This referenced the species’ appetite for grains like rice and its habitat in reedy marshes. However, there is no evidence that “rice bird” was ever shortened to “Bob-o’-link.”
First documented usage
The earliest known printed usage of the name “Bobolink” comes from the 1760s. In his 1766 natural history work Travels Through New England, author J.J Ware wrote:
“Of the sparrow kind is the bird called bobolincon, or rice-bird, about the bigness of a lark, and of rich and various colors.”
The name was also used in the 1770s by writer Oliver Goldsmith and naturalist William Bartram. By the early 1800s, John James Audubon had cemented “Bobolink” as the accepted common name for the species.
References in arts and culture
The Bobolink has made appearances in literary and musical works over the years. Here are some noteworthy examples:
Poems
Bobolinks are mentioned in poems like “The Bobolink” by 19th century poet Celia Thaxter and “The Bobolink” by 20th century writer Vachel Lindsay. Robert Frost references the bird in his 1914 poem “The Oven Bird.”
Songs
The Bobolink is the subject of popular songs like:
- “The Bobolink Waltz” by Edward B. Birge
- “The Bobolink Minstrel” by Walter H. Aiken
- “The Bobolink’s Song” by E. Mack
Children’s books
The Bobolink appears as a character in children’s books like:
- The Bobolink: A Little Wanderer by Fannie Hardy Eckstorm
- Bobby Bobolink by Howard R. Garis
- Mr. and Mrs. Bobolink: Their Family Life by Grace Purdie
Paintings
Bobolinks were a popular subject for bird artists like Louis Agassiz Fuertes and John James Audubon, who painted the species in vivid detail.
Conclusion
In summary, the most likely origin of the name “Bobolink” is that it imitates the animated, bubbling song of this small blackbird. The onomatopoeic moniker first came into use in the 1760s and has endured as the accepted common name. While other theories exist, the bobolink’s bubbly vocalizations probably best explain how this species got its memorable name.
