Bobolink in August
Where bobolinks are in August, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
August in the Bobolink's year
August feels like summer but the year has turned. Southbound migration is quietly underway, many adults are molting into fresh plumage, and family groups are breaking up. Late nesters are still feeding young in the North while southern birds are already drifting toward wintering grounds.
For the Bobolink specifically, August is a summer month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 40 states and provinces where bobolinks occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where bobolinks are in August
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- summer breeder
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In August, bobolinks are absent in the South, summer breeder across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in August
Bobolinks are not nesting in August. The season runs May–July at mid-latitudes, and up to a month later in the North.
Outside the nesting season, bobolinks put their energy into feeding and flocking rather than territory and young — which is exactly what makes them easier to watch and attract this month.
What to feed in August
- Grasshoppers, caterpillars and grass seeds
Needs hayfields left uncut until mid-July; delaying the first cut is the single best thing for them.
Molting birds look scruffy and often skulk — don't be surprised if familiar visitors briefly vanish. Keep water fresh in the heat.
Watching bobolinks this month
Bobolinks are settled and predictable in August, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region bobolinks are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Bobolink month by month
Bobolink by state
Frequently asked
Where are bobolinks in August?
In August, bobolinks are absent in the South, summer breeder across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do bobolinks nest in August?
No — bobolinks typically nest May through July at mid-latitudes.
What do bobolinks eat in August?
Grasshoppers, caterpillars and grass seeds.
Sources
- Bobolink — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Bobolink life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Bobolink — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.