The bobolink travels over 12,500 miles from southern South America to spend some time at Springbrook Prairie in DuPage County. Its beautiful plumage, often described as a “backwards tuxedo”, a white back and black underparts along with a straw colored yellow hat on its head make it a unique songbird in North America.
Like many other birds, the bobolink is diminishing in numbers. Poisonous pesticides and shrinking habitats are taking a great toll on the bobolink and most other birds.
A bobolink perches on a dying goldenrod stem in an emerald grassland. The bobolink has a white back and black underparts, similar to wearing a tuxedo backwards, along with a brilliant straw-colored patch on its head. The colors of this bubbling, virtuosic songbird make it unique in North America.
A bobolink sings its bubbling, virtuosic song on a leafy tree top. With Its beak wide open and a brilliant straw-colored patch on its head, the bobolink stands out in the prairie sky.
The straw colored head of a bobolink stands out prominently in a prairie of dying goldenrod stems. In contrast to tans, greens and blue hues of an open meadow, the bobolink unique feather coloring make the bird easily identifiable.