{"id":147728,"date":"2025-06-05T03:49:23","date_gmt":"2025-06-05T08:49:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=147728"},"modified":"2025-06-05T03:49:23","modified_gmt":"2025-06-05T08:49:23","slug":"male-dickcissel-singing-on-a-cornstalk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2025\/06\/05\/male-dickcissel-singing-on-a-cornstalk\/","title":{"rendered":"Male Dickcissel Singing On A Cornstalk"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Dickcissels are back for their breeding season at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge<\/span><\/a>. Earlier this week, I photographed this adult male Dickcissel singing on a cornstalk in nice morning light.<\/p>\n

\"AdultAdult male Dickcissel singing on a cornstalk \u2013 Canon R7, handheld, f8, 1\/2500, ISO 1000, +0.7 EV, Canon EF 100-400mm II at 371mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

It was fun to listen to this male singing<\/span><\/a> from the top of an old cornstalk, not far from the auto tour route at the refuge.<\/p>\n

Male Dickcissels are chunky, sparrow-sized birds with grayish heads, bright yellow lines above their eyes, and bold black V-shaped patches on their yellow chests. Their backs are brown with dark streaks, and they have distinctive chestnut patches on their shoulders. Their bills are thick and pale.<\/p>\n

During the breeding season, males are easy to spot as they perch on tall grasses or fence posts, loudly singing their sharp, buzzy \u201cdick-dick-ciss-ciss-ciss\u201d songs to attract mates and defend their territories. The species was named for that song.<\/p>\n

I tried to take a video of what I believe was the same Dickcissel much earlier in the morning while it was singing, but there wasn\u2019t enough light at the time. I hope I get the chance to record this species in better light.<\/p>\n

Any time I have a Dickcissel in my viewfinder, I\u2019m one happy woman.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my Dickcissel photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Earlier this week, I photographed this adult male Dickcissel singing on a cornstalk in nice morning light.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":147725,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,14015,13973,13974],"tags":[4004,13984,16180,16280,16478,14017,14019,4062,4104,4179,4018,14016,165,4076],"class_list":["post-147728","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-dickcissels","category-oklahoma","category-sequoyah-national-wildlife-refuge","tag-adult","tag-bottomlands","tag-corn-field","tag-corn-stalk","tag-cornstalk","tag-dickcissel","tag-dickcissels","tag-male","tag-perched","tag-singing-2","tag-sky","tag-spiza-americana","tag-spring","tag-trees"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/dickcissel-adult-male-singing-cornstalk-mia-mcpherson-9235.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-CqI","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":128570,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/05\/22\/dickcissel-images-from-tishomingo-national-wildlife-refuge\/","url_meta":{"origin":147728,"position":0},"title":"Dickcissel Images From Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 22, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"I've been enjoying taking photos of Dickcissels at Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge since I arrived in Oklahoma. Hearing them sing has also been a joy.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Male Dickcissel singing from a fire snag, Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/dickcissel-adult-singing-mia-mcpherson-9184.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/dickcissel-adult-singing-mia-mcpherson-9184.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/dickcissel-adult-singing-mia-mcpherson-9184.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/dickcissel-adult-singing-mia-mcpherson-9184.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":113878,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/06\/19\/my-lifer-dickcissel-photos-at-sequoyah-nwr\/","url_meta":{"origin":147728,"position":1},"title":"My Lifer Dickcissel Photos At Sequoyah NWR","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 19, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The subject today is my lifer Dickcissel photos taken at Sequoyah NWR in Oklahoma. Huge thanks go to my friend Steve for putting me on this male.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult male Dickcissel with a mayfly, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/dickcissel-adult-mayfly-mia-mcpherson-9223.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/dickcissel-adult-mayfly-mia-mcpherson-9223.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/dickcissel-adult-mayfly-mia-mcpherson-9223.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/dickcissel-adult-mayfly-mia-mcpherson-9223.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":149788,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2025\/07\/05\/female-dickcissel-in-oklahoma\/","url_meta":{"origin":147728,"position":2},"title":"Female Dickcissel In Oklahoma","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 5, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"I was delighted to photograph this female Dickcissel perched on a dock two days ago from the auto tour road at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Female Dickcissel perched on dock in Oklahoma, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/dickcissel-female-sequoyah-mia-mcpherson-1054.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/dickcissel-female-sequoyah-mia-mcpherson-1054.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/dickcissel-female-sequoyah-mia-mcpherson-1054.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/dickcissel-female-sequoyah-mia-mcpherson-1054.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":128229,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/05\/04\/indigo-bunting-male-at-sequoyah-nwr\/","url_meta":{"origin":147728,"position":3},"title":"Indigo Bunting Male At Sequoyah NWR","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 4, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"This image shows a male Indigo Bunting singing on a wild grapevine in the morning. It was taken taken earlier this week at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Male Indigo Bunting singing on a wild grapevine, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/indigo-bunting-male-sequoyah-grapevine-mia-mcpherson-3892.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/indigo-bunting-male-sequoyah-grapevine-mia-mcpherson-3892.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/indigo-bunting-male-sequoyah-grapevine-mia-mcpherson-3892.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/indigo-bunting-male-sequoyah-grapevine-mia-mcpherson-3892.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":141525,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2025\/03\/12\/male-red-winged-blackbird-on-corn-stalks\/","url_meta":{"origin":147728,"position":4},"title":"Male Red-winged Blackbird On Corn Stalks","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 12, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"On my most recent trip to Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, I photographed an immature male Red-winged Blackbird perched on a corn stalk in a field.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Young male Red-winged Blackbird at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/red-winged-blackbird-male-end-winter-mia-mcpherson-7443.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/red-winged-blackbird-male-end-winter-mia-mcpherson-7443.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/red-winged-blackbird-male-end-winter-mia-mcpherson-7443.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/red-winged-blackbird-male-end-winter-mia-mcpherson-7443.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":148200,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2025\/06\/12\/blue-dasher-dragonfly-male-at-sequoyah-national-wildlife-refuge\/","url_meta":{"origin":147728,"position":5},"title":"Blue Dasher Dragonfly Male At Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 12, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Two days ago I photographed this adult Blue Dasher dragonfly near the gravel road at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge. I'm happy to see the dragonflies back.","rel":"","context":"In "Blue Dasher Dragonflies"","block_context":{"text":"Blue Dasher Dragonflies","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/wildlife\/blue-dasher-dragonflies\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult Blue Dasher dragonfly male at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/blue-dasher-dragonfly-male-sequoyah-mia-mcpherson-0044.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/blue-dasher-dragonfly-male-sequoyah-mia-mcpherson-0044.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/blue-dasher-dragonfly-male-sequoyah-mia-mcpherson-0044.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/blue-dasher-dragonfly-male-sequoyah-mia-mcpherson-0044.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147728","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=147728"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147728\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/147725"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=147728"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=147728"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=147728"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}