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.
Oregon
Hotspots
Klamath Basin NWR
Tule Lake NWR
Malheur NWR
Willamette Valley NWR
Ankeny NWR
Baskett Slough NWR
Finley NWR
Yaquina Head
Outstanding Natural Area Newport
Bonney Butte
Mt. Hood, Oregon
Coos Bay, Oregon
Portland, Oregon's West Hills
Sauvie Island, Oregon
Seaside, Oregon
Bandon, Oregon
Tillamook, Oregon
Klamath Falls, Oregon
Depoe Bay, Oregon
Lincoln City, Oregon
Camassia Natural
Area
Sandy River Gorge Preserve
Cascade Head
Preserve
Middle Fork
John Day River Preserve
Tom McCall
Preserve
Lower Table Rock
Preserve
Bandon Marsh NWR
Bear Valley NWR
Cape Mearas NWR
Cold Springs NWR
Lewis and Clark
NWR
Mackay Creek NWR
Oregon Islands NWR
Three Arch Rocks
NWR
Mid-Columbia River
NWR Complex (Toppenish, McNary (Wash.),
Umatilla, McKay, Cold Springs NWRs)
Upper Klamath NWR
William F. Finley
NWR