Dickcissel Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesDickcissel
Breeding male
Large sparrowlike bird. Breeding males have a black V on the throat, a yellow breast, and rusty shoulders.
© Martina Nordstrand / Macaulay LibraryNorth Carolina, May 08, 2020Female
Large sparrowlike bird with a conical bill. Females have a pale yellow breast and rusty shoulders. Note pale yellow eyebrow.
© Mike Cameron / Macaulay LibraryTexas, May 04, 2019Breeding male
Named for its song: one or two sharp introductory notes followed by a fast, high warble, "dick-cissel."
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryMissouri, May 01, 1999Not all videos have sound
Female
Chunky sparrowlike bird. Females have a pale yellow breast, rusty shoulder patches, and a pale yellow eyebrow.
© Evan Lipton / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, November 02, 2015Immature
Immature birds have streaking on the breast and a pale yellowish eyebrow. Note heavy conical bill.
© Jan Allen / Macaulay LibraryKansas, August 10, 2017Female
Often makes irregular movements outside of its core breeding range to surrounding areas where extensive grassland can be found. Note large size, dark streaks on upper back and yellow eyebrow.
© Evan Lipton / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, October 14, 2016Breeding male
Note heavy streaks down the back, rusty shoulders, and yellow eyebrow.
© Brendan Klick / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, June 16, 2017Habitat
Found in tall grasslands, including prairie, hayfields, lightly grazed pastures, and roadsides.
© Nathan Tea / Macaulay LibraryMaryland, June 03, 2017Flock
Forms large flocks on the wintering grounds in open grasslands, savannas, and croplands.
© Jerome Foster / Macaulay LibraryTunapuna-Piarco, February 06, 2017Adult males and females with Blue Grosbeak
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 23, 1997Not all videos have sound
Similar SpeciesEastern Meadowlark
Breeding adult (Eastern)
Meadowlarks have yellow chests with a black "V" similar to Dickcissels, but they are much larger and stockier than Dickcissels, with shorter tails, white outer tail feathers, and longer, thinner bills.
© Doris Brookens / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, March 26, 2017Similar SpeciesHouse Sparrow
Female
Female House Sparrows are stockier with a shorter and blunter bill than Dickcissels. They also do not have a black mustache line or a yellow eyebrow like Dickcissels.
© Douglas Faulder / Macaulay LibraryAlberta, May 07, 2017Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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