General
Dickcissel: Medium-sized, stocky, sparrow-like bird with dark gray back and head, and black-streaked shoulders. Face is gray with yellow eyestripe and breast is yellow. V-shaped bib is black. Wings are brown with chestnut-brown patches. Female and winter adult have brown upperparts and no black bib. Juvenile is brown and streaked.
Range and Habitat
Dickcissel: Breeds from eastern Montana and the Great Lakes region south to Texas and the Gulf coast, locally farther east. Spends winters mainly in the tropics. Preferred habitats include open country in grain or hay fields and in weed patches.
Breeding and Nesting
Dickcissel: Three to five pale blue eggs are laid in a cup of plant stems and grass set on or near the ground, usually in a field. Incubation ranges from 12 to 13 days and is carried out by the female.
Foraging and Feeding
Dickcissel: Feeds on seeds, grass, and insects; younger birds consume more insects.
Readily Eats
Safflower, Apple Slices, Suet, Millet, Peanut Kernels, Fruit
Vocalization
Dickcissel: Sings "dick-dick-cissel", with the first two notes sharp and the third buzzing, repeated over and over from a conspicuous perch on a fence or in a tree. Call is a distinctive buzzing note often given in flight.
Similar Species
Dickcissel: Meadowlarks are larger and have longer, thinner bills. Female Dickcissel has larger, paler bill than female House Sparrow.