Vermont Rare Bird Reports 2021

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None, however several people have reported this pair of Dickcissels since I observed the female and have documented her in eBird with photographs.

Calm winds, clear skies.

Swarovski 8.5 X 42

I had spent the past week observing many Dickcissels while on a cross country trip through states where this bird breeds.

Lagoon Road intersects a very large flood plain. On the west side, are fallow fields. On the east side, some parts of the field are uncut while other parts are currently being farmed and were recently cut. Along both edges of the road are dense weedy vegetation. Bobolinks and Eastern Meadowlarks nest here as well as Snipe, geese, Killdeer, swallows, blackbird species, Savannah and Song Sparrows.

Female was perched on utility line the entire five minutes. The male was first hidden in tall weeds and singing, then flew up to the female and they copulated. Then the male then flew back down into the vegetation while the female remained on the line.

Male: a series of short buzzy notes (see eBird entry)

I drove down Lagoon Road slowly with the windows down to listen for the singing male. About a quarter of the way down the road, I heard it and stopped the car. I noticed a bird on the utility line very close to me, that I thought might be a Dickcissel, based on its size and shape, but it was not singing and it was duller than what I'd expect in a breeding male.
I was contemplating the possibility of it being a female Dickcissel, and was ruling out possible species, when the male flew up to the female and they copulated. The male then dropped back down into the tall vegetation and sang again and I recorded his song. I spent the rest of the time observing and taking notes about the female, which stayed on the line.

The size and shape of the bird(s) are similar to a sparrow (Song, not Savannah)

Female: She had a brownish crown and cheek, large light (white and some yellow), light malar and throat with a very thin and dark malar stripe.
Male: I recognized him immediately. I did not take notes on the male, but noted his bold yellowish supercillium, light malar and chin, and dark malar stripe (bigger than the female's) with a dark V on throat.

I did not observe feet. Bills on both birds were chunky like a grosbeak only longer, and light in color.

I did not observe their backs. Her nape was brownish.

Wings were sparrow like in color and streaking.
Female had less rufous on the coverts than the male.

Female: Her breast had a slight yellow wash to it, and belly was lighter. No streaking on flanks. Her breast had no black V.

I did not observe tails

I thought of the other sparrows that are known to nest there: Savannah and Song Sparrow. The observed bird was larger than a Savannah, had no streaking on the breast, and had rufous on its wing coverts. The bill was larger and longer as well. The observed bird was similar in size to a Song Sparrow, but lacked the streaking and central spot, did not have the gray coloration on the face like a Song Sparrow.

I am not sure if a RSD is required for a Dickcissel, but believe there is no record of this species nesting in Vermont. I am hoping other people will observe more behaviors to confirm breeding if these birds are indeed nesting in Vermont.