Grassland Birds - Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus)

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     This is a continuation of the post on July 5  beginning a series in which I present photos of birds that are either residents of the U.S. National Grasslands or use the Grasslands as a breeding area. The Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) breeds in the grasslands but spends the winters in South America. When it returns to the breeding grounds after wintering in South America, the bird will have traveled approximately 12,000 miles.

Male Bobolink, July 2018, Lostwood NWR, ND
Nikon D500, 500mm f/4 + 2x teleconverter
1/2000 sec at f/9, ISO 640

Click on images for a larger view.

Male Bobolink, July 2018, Lostwood NWR, ND
Nikon D500, 500mm f/4 + 2x teleconverter
1/3200 sec at f/9, ISO 3200

Breeding male Bobolinks are mostly black but have patches of white on the rump, back, and wings. The yellowish hind neck contrasts sharply with the predominantly black body. The visually striking breeding plumage of the male Bobolinks has been described as "looking like a skunk, a backward tuxedo, or a broken egg running down their back" (Birdweb).

 

Male Bobolink, July 2018, Lostwood NWR, ND
Nikon D500, 500mm f/4 + 2x teleconverter
1/3200 sec at f/9, ISO 3200

Female Bobolink, July 2018, Arrowwood NWR, ND
Nikon D500, 500mm f/4 + 2x teleconverter
1/2500 sec at f/10, ISO 1800

Females and males in non-breeding plumage look like large sparrows because of the thick, short bills and the dark and light head stripes. The underparts of the body are buff-brown; the wings and tail are darker and streaked. 

Female Bobolink, July 2018, Arrowwood NWR, ND
Nikon D500, 500mm f/4 + 2x teleconverter
1/2500 sec at f/10, ISO 1600

Female Bobolink, July 2018, Arrowwood NWR, ND
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II camera, 300mm f/4 IS Pro lens + 1.4x tc
1/3200 sec at f/6.3, ISO 500

From Wikipedia. Bobolinks often migrate in flocks. The collective name for a group of bobolinks is a chain. 
 

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David Sparks

I retired in 2005 after 40 years of research and teaching at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (24 years), the University of Pennsylvania (8 years) and the Baylor College of Medicine (8 years). Photography is my retirement hobby.

Nature photography, especially bird photography, combines a number of things that I really enjoy: bird-watching, being outdoors, photography, travel, messing about with computers, and learning new skills and concepts.  I now spend much of my time engaged in these activities.

David Sibley in the preface to The Sibley Guide to Birds wrote "Birds are beautiful, in spectacular as well as subtle ways; their colors, shapes, actions, and sounds are among the most aesthetically pleasing in nature."  My goal is to acquire images that capture the beauty and uniqueness of selected species as well as images that highlight the engaging behaviors the birds exhibit.