Bobolink Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Song
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Minnesota, June 10, 2013Recorded by Wil Hershberger / Macaulay Library
Song
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New York, June 01, 2009Recorded by Bob McGuire / Macaulay Library
Song
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New York, May 24, 2020Recorded by Nick Kachala / Macaulay Library
Song
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New York, May 29, 2017Recorded by Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library
Song and calls
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North Dakota, June 14, 1990Recorded by Geoffrey A. Keller / Macaulay Library
Song and calls
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New York, June 16, 2018Recorded by Marky Mutchler / Macaulay Library
Calls
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New York, July 12, 2020Recorded by Matthew D. Medler / Macaulay Library
Calls
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Oregon, May 31, 1994Recorded by Randolph Little / Macaulay Library
Calls
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Vermont, July 18, 2017Recorded by David Eberly / Macaulay Library
Calls
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New York, May 27, 2009Recorded by Bob McGuire / Macaulay Library
Flight calls
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New York, July 12, 2016Recorded by Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library
Flight calls
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Florida, September 12, 2015Recorded by Paul Marvin / Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Songs

The male sings a metallic, bubbly, rambling song with a mixture of sharp high notes and buzzy low pitches. He sings from perches and in flight throughout the breeding season, but mostly while establishing a territory and courting females. Each male has 2 song types, each composed of 25–50 notes in a fixed sequence, lasting about 3.5 seconds.

Calls

Bobolinks use a pink sound all year round to communicate within flocks, and they have several additional calls during the breeding season. Males give chunk, chenk, and see-yew calls when disturbed by intruders, buzzes during courtship display, and staccato check notes while pursuing other males. Females respond to intruders with chunk and quipt notes, and use quiet zeep notes when conflicting with other individuals.