Beginning in late July, the male has a complete postnuptial molt with the bill changing from a black to clay color and looks similar to the female. The female and first year birds are buffy all over with dark streaks on back, rump, and sides. In the fall, females turn to a buffy color with streaking. All bobolinks have sharply pointed tail feathers. The bobolink song in the spring is a bubbling plinkity plink while flying in flocks and upon landing in meadows.
Bobolinks feed and nest in unmowed farm fields.
The early mowing of hay fields and the development of open meadows have caused a decline of the birds. Years ago people slaughtered them by the hundreds to serve as a gourmet dish. Please call the Audubon office at 428-3959 and report your information. This article was written by Delaware Audubon board member Peggy Jahn. This page was last updated on April 1, 1997.