Jan., 1909. Birds of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 551 



Genus DOLICHONYX Swainson. 



223. Dolichonyx oryzivorus (Linn.). 



Bobolink. 



Distr. : Ranges in North America from the Atlantic coast west to 

 Utah and Montana, north to Ontario, south to Florida and the Gulf 

 coast; winters in South America. 



Adult male in spring: Head, throat and under parts, black; the 

 feathers of under parts, either edged with pale buff or entirely black, 



Bobolink. 



according to season; a patch of pale tawny or tawny buff on back of 

 neck; upper back, black, with tawny streaks down into the middle; 

 most of scapulars, lower back and rump, whitish; primaries and tail 

 feathers, black, the latter narrowly tipped with gray and the middle 

 feathers sharply pointed. 



Adult female in spring: Upper parts, olive buff, streaked with 

 black; a streak of olive buff on middle of crown; under parts, yellow- 

 ish buff; the throat, pale; sides of body, streaked with black. Some- 

 what smaller than the male. 



Adult male in fall: Plumage similar to the spring female, but rather 

 more buffy. 



Male: Length, 7 to 7.40; wing, 3.60 to 3.80; tail, 2.75 to 3; 

 bill, .50. 



Female: Length, 6.60 to 7.10; wing, 3.30 to 3.60; tail, 2.80; 

 bill, .45. 



The BoboHnk is an abundant migrant in southern Illinois, and 



