Fauna
Bird

Dickcissel

Spiza americana

Also known as Black-throated Bunting, Prairie Bunting

Male dickcissels project their sharp, buzzy namesake call from tall prairie weeds to establish breeding territories each spring. These nomadic grassland songbirds shift their nesting ranges dramatically from year to year depending on rain and vegetation height. Females construct woven grass nests near the ground, raising broods that feed heavily on crop pests like grasshoppers.

MigratoryGrasslandSongbird
Dickcissel reference1 / 7
(c) Bill Keim, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Bill Keim · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyGrasshoppers, Caterpillars, Grass seeds
Predators
  • Hawks
  • Snakes
  • Feral cats
ThreatsHabitat loss, early agricultural mowing, winter roost persecution
HabitatsTallgrass prairies, pastures, alfalfa fields, overgrown meadows
Life span3–5 years
Classification
  1. FamilyCardinalidae
  2. SpeciesSpiza americana
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
What to notice
Look for a sparrow-sized songbird with a yellow chest, gray face, and a sharp black V on the throat.
Support conservation
Stay on established roads and trails near nesting fields, avoiding tall grass from May through July.
Responsible observation
  • Listening for calls: Listen for the distinct dick-dick-ciss-ciss-ciss song from roadside fence posts in summer.
  • Habitat scanning: Scan tall weeds, clover fields, and shrubby pasture borders during late spring.
  • Respecting nest sites: Avoid walking through dense, unmowed prairie grass during peak summer nesting.
Related species
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