Spiza americana ORDER: PASSERIFORMES FAMILY: CARDINALIDAE
IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern
© Stephen Pollard
A sparrow-like bird of the prairie grasslands of the United States, the Dickcissel congregates in huge flocks in migration and on its tropical grassland wintering grounds. The breeding male is colored like a tiny meadowlark, with a black "V" on a yellow chest.
Song a simple, dry, "dick, dick, ciss, ciss, ciss." Call a dry "chek." Flight call a short, buzzy "fpppt," like a Bronx cheer.