FOOD OF THE BOBOLINK, BLACKBIRDS, AND GRACKTES, 
By F. E. L. Bear, B.S., 
Assistant Biologist, U. S. Department of Agriculture. 
INTRODUCTION. 
The birds commonly known as bobolinks, meadowlarks, orioles, 
blackbirds, grackles, and cowbirds are all comprised in a group 
known as the family Icteride, which is represented if the United 
States by 29 species and subspecies. These differ remarkably in 
plumage, nesting habits, and methods of obtaining food. The plain 
black in which many of them are clothed is relieved in the redwing hy 
a touch of brilliant color, and in the bobolink (in spring dress) by white 
and buff; in the orioles it is usually reduced to a few patches to offset 
the bright tints; and in the meadowlarks is restricted to a black cres- 
cent on the breast. The orioles build their nests in trees, sometimes 
at a considerable height, and obtain their food among the leaves and 
branches. The bobolinks and meadowlarks build upon the ground 
and depend for food upon such insects and seeds as they find on the 
surface. The other species take an intermediate position, some, such 
as the crow blackbird, building in trees, and others on low bushes and 
rushes, but all obtaining the greater part of their food on the ground, 
In this bulletin are discussed the food habits of the bobolink, the 
cowbird, the yellow-headed blackbird, the red-winged biackbird, the 
California red-winged blackbird, the rusty blackbird, Brewer's black- 
bird, the crow blackbird, and the boat-tailed grackle. These comprise 
all the important members of the group with the exception of the 
meadowlarks and orioles.!. One or more of these specics may be 
found at some time of the year in every State and Territory. As they 
are much given to nesting and feeding about farms and stock yards 
or to visiting outlying grainfields and pastures, the character of their 
food becomes a question of considerable importance to the cultivator. 
'A report on the food of the meadowlark and Baltimore oriole was published in 
the Yearbook of the Department of Agriculture for 1895, pp. 419-430; a preliminary 
report on the food habits of the crow blackbird appeared in the Yearbook for 1894, 
pp. 233-248; and the grain-eating habits of most of the blackbirds were discussed 
under the title ‘Birds injurious to grain,’ in the Yearbook for 1897, pp. 35-354, 
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