Dickcissel

Spiza americana

Also known as: Black-Throated Bunting, Judas Bird, Townsend's Bunting

About This Species

Scan tallgrass prairie, hayfields and weedy grasslands across the central United States for this stocky, sparrow-like bird, named for its distinctive dry, buzzy song delivered from an exposed perch such as a fence wire or tall stem. Breeding males show a yellow breast and black bib that make them easy to pick out once located by song. Late spring through mid-summer, during the height of singing activity, is the best window to find territorial males.

Ethical Viewing Guidelines

This is a common grassland species that can usually be observed well from a road or field edge without needing to enter breeding habitat.
Native migratory birds are protected under federal law in the United States, and nests in hayfields are vulnerable to both direct disturbance and to mowing, so avoid walking through suspected nesting grassland during the breeding season.
Viewing singing males from a track or vehicle causes no meaningful disturbance and is the preferred approach.

LCAvesPasseriformesCardinalidae

Seasonal Activity

649,049 sightings · 2000–2026

Citizen science records via GBIF

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Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Cardinalidae

Photo

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Occurrence data from GBIF.