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Bobolink

Status Locally common in summer. Breeds. The Bobolink normally arrives in May (average 8 May, earliest 28 April), but very early individuals have been seen on Cape Sable on 17 April 1974; at Lower West Pubnico, Yarmouth County, on 8 April 1982 (2 birds); and at West Lawrencetown, Halifax County, on 20 April 1983. In the past it was found in summer largely about the meadowlands of Annapolis, Kings, Hants, Cumberland and Colchester counties but in recent years has been seen increasingly in coastal meadowlands and on Cape Breton Island. Gathering migrants are found in August, and it occurs in numbers on the islands off southwestern Nova Scotia during September. Latest sightings are usually in October (average 18 October, latest 18 November), but stragglers were found on Christmas Bird Counts at Yarmouth on 28 December 1969, and at Chezzetcook (Halifax East Count) on 15 December 1973 (and for 3 days thereafter).

Description Length: 16.5-20cm. Adult male: Nape creamy buff; rest of head and underparts black; scapulars, lower back and rump white; wings and tail black, the tail feathers with pointed tips, the feathers edged with brown; back black, with buff streaks. Adult female: Above light olive, streaked with dark brown or black; centre of crown has a broad buff stripe, bordered with dark brown or black stripes; light buff below with indistinct spots or faint lines of dark brown along flanks; tail feathers pointed at tips.

Breeding Nest: Composed entirely of soft dry grass; usually on the ground in hayfields left unmown for a year or longer. Eggs: 4-6, usually 5; grayish white, spotted and blotched with various shades and densities of brown and lavender. Laying begins early in June and most sets are complete by 15 June. Of three nests examined on the dykelands below Wolfville, one contained five fresh eggs on 16 June 1904; one had six slightly incubated eggs on 20 June 1915; and an early one held five young about a week old on 22 June 1942.

Range Breeds from southwestern Newfoundland, central Ontario, southern Alberta and southeastern British Columbia, south to Pennsylvania, Colorado and northeastern California. Winters in South America south to Argentina and Paraguay.

Remarks The Bobolink is a very desirable and popular bird. It is well worth a trip to a male bird's domain on a fine day in June to hear the outpouring of his wonderful song as he flies slowly on quivering wings over the daisy-decked meadow where his drably coloured mate patiently guards the nest. As soon as his domestic duties for the year are completed, he exchanges his bright summer garb for one closely resembling that of his mate, and his song is no longer heard. This plumage change occurs about mid-August; one seen at Antigonish on 16 August 1920 was in the process of changing, making him appear mottled and strange. By mid-August Bobolinks gather in flocks and the first leave us soon thereafter.

Like many of our smaller migrants, the males arrive first in spring, often in flocks. On 12 May 1923 about 25 males were perched in a small tree near the edge of the meadows at Canard, Kings County, all singing in chorus; the medley they produced could be heard for a considerable distance.

The striking and distinctive summer plumage of the male is not easily mistaken for that of other summer birds. The sparrow-like plumage of the female may cause confusion but her larger size will distinguish her from the sparrows which may share her habitat in summer.