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Jun. 2001 - Vol. 62, No. 6

Back cover imageDickcissel Spiza americana

Dickcissels are common throughout grasslands of the Midwest. The birds are five-and-three-quarter inches long and have chestnut backs. Males have yellow breasts with black bibs and often perch on fences while delivering their dick-dick-dickcissel song. They are often vocal through the heat of the day. Most dickcissels winter in Venezuela and return to their breeding range in May.