The Western Meadowlark - Sturnella
neglecta - are permanent residents throughout much of their range. Northern
birds may migrate to the southern parts of their range; some birds also move
east in the southern United
States. The habitat is grasslands, prairies,
pastures, and abandoned fields, all of which may be found from across western
and central North America to northern Mexico. Where their range overlaps
with the eastern species, these birds prefer thinner, drier vegetation. They
generally do not interbreed but do defend territory against one another. In
winter, these birds often feed in flocks.
Description
The Western Meadowlark is the
size of a robin but chunkier and shorter-tailed, with a flat head, long,
slender bill, and a round-shouldered posture that nearly conceals its neck.
They have yellow underparts, with a black "V" on the breast, and
white flanks which are streaked with black. Their upper parts are mostly brown,
but also have black streaks. These birds have long pointed bills and their
heads are striped with light brown and black.
Call
It has distinctive calls
described as watery or flute-like, which distinguish it from the closely
related Eastern Meadowlark. Males commonly use fence posts as perches while
singing. They will sing to stake out a breeding territory which averages
7 acres in size but may vary from 3 to 15 acres.
Food
It feeds mostly on insects,
but also seeds and berries. These birds forage on the ground or in low to
semi-low vegetation. They sometimes search for food by probing with their bills
Breeding
The Western Meadowlark nests on
the ground in open country. Their nests are covered with a roof woven from
grass. There may be more than one nesting female in a male's territory. Their
nests are sometimes destroyed by mowing operations with eggs and young. An
average of 5 eggs are laid and they may have two clutches per year. The
eggs are white with brown and lavender spots concentrated at the wider
end. Incubation takes two weeks and the young are full grown 6 weeks
after hatching. The males will have more than one mate, up to three
females may nest within its territory.
Conservation Status – Least Concern
Western Meadowlarks are abundant
and widespread, but breeding populations have declined slightly throughout
their range in recent years, a trend seen in Washington in both the winter and breeding
seasons. Most of this decline can probably be attributed to habitat destruction
from livestock grazing, mowing, and development, and contamination from
pesticides. In northeastern Washington, the
conversion of forested river valleys to agricultural uses may be increasing
available habitat, but western Washington
populations have declined significantly in recent years as the remaining
prairie in this part of the state is developed, degraded by invasive plants, or
altered by fire suppression. Western Meadowlarks are extremely sensitive to
human disturbance during the breeding season and will abort nesting attempts if
they are flushed while incubating eggs.
Bird watching
Look for them among low to
medium-height grasses more so than in tall fields. They also occur along the
weedy verges of roads, marsh edges, and mountain meadows up to 10,000 feet.
Nebraska
Hotspots
Platte River
Valley
Sandhill Cranes
Funk Wildlife
Production Area (WPA)
Broken Bow
Valentine NWR
Smith Falls
State Park
Niobrara NWR
Lacreek NWR (South Dakota)
Homestead National
Monument
Burchard Lake
Indian Cave
State Park
Valentine NWR
Lillian Annette
Rowe Sanctuary
Spring Creek Prairie.
Salt Marsh
Studnicka Farm