Dickcissel (Spiza americana) is in the Cardinals and Allies family (Cardinalidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 14,378 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Dickcissel: observations by month (U.S.)
About Dickcissel
The dickcissel (Spiza americana) is a small American seed-eating 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 (see below).From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Dickcissel by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 5,148 | May | Apr–May |
| Illinois | 1,348 | June | May–Jul |
| Kansas | 870 | June | May–Jul |
| Missouri | 676 | May | May–Jul |
| Nebraska | 498 | June | May–Jul |
| Oklahoma | 465 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Iowa | 459 | June | May–Jul |
| Minnesota | 453 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Ohio | 415 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Arkansas | 382 | May | May–Jun |
| Wisconsin | 363 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Tennessee | 329 | May | May–Jun |
| Louisiana | 288 | May | Apr–May |
| Indiana | 232 | June | May–Jul |
| Michigan | 207 | June | Jun–Jul |
| South Dakota | 199 | June | Jun–Jul |
| California | 194 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Colorado | 155 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Massachusetts | 150 | October | Sep–Oct |
| New York | 145 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Alabama | 129 | May | May–Jun |
| Maryland | 127 | June | May–Jul |
| Florida | 108 | January | Jan–May |
| Virginia | 94 | June | May–Jul |
| Kentucky | 88 | June | May–Aug |
| Pennsylvania | 80 | June | May–Jul |
| Arizona | 75 | September | Sep–Oct |
| New Jersey | 72 | October | Sep–Nov |
| New Mexico | 72 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Mississippi | 64 | May | Apr–May |
| North Carolina | 63 | May | May–Jun |
| Vermont | 61 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Maine | 57 | February | Jan–Feb |
| North Dakota | 55 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Delaware | 46 | June | May–Jul |
| Georgia | 42 | May | May–Jul |
| Connecticut | 34 | October | Sep–Feb |
| Montana | 25 | July | Jul–Jul |
| South Carolina | 23 | May | May–Jun |
| Oregon | 19 | November | Oct–Nov |
| Rhode Island | 15 | May | May–Jun |
| New Hampshire | 13 | October | Sep–Oct |
| West Virginia | 12 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Alaska | 6 | November | Nov–Nov |
| Idaho | 5 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Wyoming | 5 | July | Jul–Jul |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Cardinals and Allies)
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Summer Tanager
Painted Bunting
Black-headed Grosbeak
Western Tanager
Scarlet Tanager
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Dickcissel?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to July.
Where is Dickcissel most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Illinois, Kansas.