Dickcissel - Spiza americana

Habitat

The dickcissel is found in grain fields and weedy areas. Dickcissel populations may shift when food sources change.

Diet

The dickcissel forages on the ground for seeds and insects. In the winter, dickcissels feed in flocks and are considered pests by farmers.

Life Cycle

The female lays 3-5 eggs in a nest in the grass or in a bush close to the ground. The eggs hatch in 13-15 days and the chicks fledge when they are 9-10 days old.

Behavior

The dickcissel was once a common bird in the farmlands of the eastern United States. There are still small, isolated populations found on the east coast.