bobolink (English)

Where does "bobolink" come from?

The name 'bobolink' is an imitative term, coined to mimic the distinct, bubbly song of this American migratory bird. It serves as a prime example of onomatopoeia, where the word's phonetic sound was directly inspired by its musical call in the wild.

Full etymology tree

• bobolink (English), 'An American migratory songbird (Dolichonyx oryzivorus), resembling a blackbird with the bill of a finch.'
  • inherited bobolink song (Nature)

Updated July 2026

Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris