Dickcissel
Spiza americana
The Dickcissel (Spiza americana) is a common cardinal found in 27 countries, weighing about 26 g. The dickcissel is a small seed-eating migratory bird in the family Cardinalidae.
About the Dickcissel
The dickcissel is a small seed-eating migratory bird in the family Cardinalidae. It breeds on the prairie grasslands of the Midwestern United States and winters in Central America, northern Colombia, and northern Venezuela. It is the only member of the genus Spiza, though some sources list another supposedly extinct species.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
Their length is 5.5–6.3 in (140–160 mm), wingspan is 9.8–10.2 in (250–260 mm), and weight is0.9–1.4 oz (26–40 g). Dickcissels have a large, pale bill, a yellow line over the eyes, brownish upperparts with black streaks on the back, dark wings, a rust patch on the shoulders, and light underparts. Adult males have a black throat patch, a yellow breast, and grey cheeks and crown. This head and breast pattern is especially brilliant in the breeding plumage, making it resemble an eastern meadowlark.
What the Dickcissel sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: April, May, June, July, August, September, October, with peak activity in June. It is a summer visitor species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Dickcissel?
- Their length is 5.5–6.3 in (140–160 mm), wingspan is 9.8–10.2 in (250–260 mm), and weight is0.9–1.4 oz (26–40 g). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Dickcissel?
- The Dickcissel is a small sized bird weighing about 26 g.
- Where can you see a Dickcissel?
- The Dickcissel occurs in 27 countries, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama.
- What does a Dickcissel sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Dickcissel on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Dickcissel?
- The Dickcissel is most easily confused with the Lazuli Bunting, the Painted Bunting and the Pyrrhuloxia.
- Is the Dickcissel endangered?
- The Dickcissel is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Dickcissel for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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