Western Meadowlark, Sturnella neglecta


Western Meadowlark
Above and below, front and back views of adult Western Meadowlark in fresh fall plumage. The buff fringes visible above on the upper breast and throat wear off to produce the brighter and more contrasty "breeding plumage" -- actually the same plumage, somewhat worn -- seen in spring and summer. The white outer tail feathers barely show at the edges on a perched bird, see below; but flash conspicuously in flight.


Western Meadowlark



Western Meadowlark
A adult male in June, feather fringes all worn off, resulting in more vivid black and yellow than the fresh-plumaged November bird in the top two pictures. This bird is singing from a typical perch for this grassland species, a fence post. The beautiful song of the Western Meadowlark consists of a series of clearly whistled or fluted notes at varying pitches, followed by a second series of complex sweet gurgling phrases, each rapidly ascending or descending. Individual males have a repertoire of several songs. The gurglings distinguish the Western Meadowlark's song from that of the very similar-looking Eastern Meadowlark, which is entirely made up of clear whistles; vocalizations are the best identifying marks for the two species in large area of the middle of the continent where both of them nest.


Western Meadowlark

Western Meadowlark