Western Meadowlark

23 cm (9") Common. Western North America. State bird for Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon and Wyoming. Grasslands, fields, meadows.

Brown chunky bird with long sharply pointed bill. Yellow throat. Black "V" across yellow breast. Short wide tail with white at edges, conspicuous in flight. Best told from similar Eastern Meadowlark by its different voice.

Song: variable flute-like jumble of gurgling notes.

Videos

Distribution Maps

Western Meadowlark distribution map

Western Meadowlark winter distribution map