Bird Description

Common in the Midwest, scarce fall migrant in E. Found in open grassland, particularly in weedy vegetation and hedges. Named for its song 'dick-dick-dickcissel.' Moves in small, tight flocks, giving short, grunting raspberry sound 'prrrtt.' On migration, sometimes found in large flocks though loners often hang out with HOSP or BOBO flocks. Can be frustratingly hard to see and always flies to the next field when discovered. ID: A lean HOSP-like bird with conical bill and sometimes peaked crown, it looks slim in flight. All plumages have streaked back, yellowish supercilium and malar on gray head, and yellow central breast on mostly pale underparts. Ad ? br: black bib bordering throat, yellow breast, and rufous shoulder patch. Drabber in winter. Ad ?/1st-w ?: duller version of ? lacking black on breast. 1st-w ?: very drab with little yellow and no rufous on shoulders; fine breast streaking.