Bobolink – new for Iceland

Rísstarli – Dolichonyx oryzivorus – Bobolink

The Bobolink, formerly named the Rice bird,  is a new species for Iceland. This female bird was spotted October 4 in Reykjanes Peninsula near the small town of Garður. It is a breeding bird in North America with wintergrounds in southerly parts of South America.  The stock is declining due to habitat loss and in many places it is not a welcome guest as it feeds on cultivated grains in winter and during migration.

Among American passerines the Bobolink is the bird that flies the longest distance to its wintergrounds, flying about 20,000 km from Canada to South America.

For better pictures see: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bobolink/overview