Bird Description

A common grassland species; find one and you will probably find many. On migration, often occurs in reedbeds. Usually found in flocks, they can be heard calling 'blink blink' as they fly overhead. Much harder to find on terra firma. On the breeding grounds, males will perch up on grass stems, bushes, or fences. Spend lots of time flying around in display flight with upperpart feathers 'punked up.' The rapid jingling song of varied notes is a common feature of summer grasslands. ?s stay hidden. In flight, long and sleek with pointed wings and is a powerful flyer. DICK is similar and also flies in flocks in Midwest. ID: a somewhat sparrow-like bird that sits upright with pointed tail and bill. Ad ? br: glossy black with bold white rump and scapulars. Golden-buff nape. By Jul, they have molted on the breeding grounds into ?/imm-type plumage, some with a few breeding feathers remaining. ?/nonbr/1st-w: orange-buff with a striped head, pale nape, and boldly striped upperparts with 'tram lines.' Underparts are uniform except for well-defined streaks on the flanks.