[Length 7 in. Wingspan 11.5 in.]

Female, immature, and Fall/Winter male Bobolinks are buffy overall with dark streaks and stripes on the head and wings, and often cause identification problems when encountered alone. This Bobolink was photographed in the fall at Brigantine NWR, New Jersey, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: December 1982)

[Length 7 in. Wingspan 11.5 in.]

Bobolinks breed in grasslands and meadows throughout the northern US and into southern Canada. They get their name from the male's bubbly, gurgling "BOB-O-LINK" call. In migration, Bobolinks are often heard before they are seen, giving a series of "PINK" or "PLINK" flight calls as they fly overhead. The male in breeding plumage is unmistakable. He is black below, on the head, and the wings, with a bright buffy nape and stark white shoulders and rump. Females, immatures, and Fall/Winter males are buffy overall with dark streaks and stripes on the head and wings, and often cause identification problems when encountered alone. This male Bobolink was photographed at a Wildlife Management Area in central New Jersey, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Kodachrome 64 film. (Date: May 1980)

[Length 7 in. Wingspan 11.5 in.]

This male Bobolink was photographed at the SPI Convention Center gardens, South Padre Island, Texas, USA. Photo taken with a AF-S VR Nikkor 300mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens + Nikkor TC14E II 1.4x Teleconverter (EFL=630mm) on a Nikon D300 camera. (Date: April 15, 2010)

[Length 7 in. Wingspan 11.5 in.]

This male Bobolink was photographed at Valley Land Fund's Sheepshead Street lots, South Padre Island, Texas, USA. Photo taken with a AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED lens (EFL=450mm) on a Nikon D300 camera. (Date: May 4, 2011)

[Length 7 in. Wingspan 11.5 in.]

This male Bobolink was photographed at the Convention Center gardens, South Padre Island, Texas, USA. Photo taken with a AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED lens on a Nikon D3200 camera. (Date: April 29, 2013)

[Length 9.75 in. Wingspan 15 in.]

This Northern Bobwhite was photographed at the Cayo del Grullo region, Riviera, Texas, USA. Photo taken with a AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED lens on a Nikon D7100 camera. (Date: May 4, 2015)

[Length 9.75 in. Wingspan 15 in.]

This male Northern Bobwhite was photographed at El Canelo Ranch, Raymondville, Texas, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor 180mm EDAF-D f2.8 lens (EFL=270mm) on a Nikon D100 camera. (Date: March 25, 2004)

[Length 9.75 in. Wingspan 15 in.]

This female Northern Bobwhite was photographed at El Canelo Ranch, Raymondville, Texas, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor 180mm EDAF-D f2.8 lens (EFL=270mm) on a Nikon D100 camera. (Date: March 25, 2004)

[Length 9.75 in. Wingspan 15 in.]

This female Northern Bobwhite was photographed at Port Mansfield, Texas, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor 70-200mm EDAF-S VR f2.8 lens + Nikkor TC14E II 1.4x Teleconverter (EFL=420mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: August 25, 2008)