The Bobolink makes one of the longest migrations of any North American songbird — a round-trip of nearly 12,500 miles to the Argentine pampas and back. The breeding male is dramatically patterned in reverse — black below, cream and white above — unique among North American birds. Its bubbly, mechanical song sounds like R2-D2 from Star Wars.
Best time to see a Bobolink
The best time to see a Bobolink is May–June, when about 72% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 9,131 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Bobolink? What bird is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Bobolink sightings near you
Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.
Spotted a Bobolink?
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