Western Meadowlark

Sturnella neglecta

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Identification

Field notes

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.

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

Western Meadowlark

Credit: Wild Bird and Nature Videos by McElroy Productions

Western Meadowlark

Credit: Don DesJardin

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Western Meadowlark

2 rules

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 6

What colour were the WINGS ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Light outer edge or corners · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?: Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Dark band or bands running across the breast or neck · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Yellow · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Yellow · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Unknown
Was the HEAD striped ?: Yes · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Sparrow-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:978-western-meadowlark:1:1 Source: 978 Western Meadowlark, row 1

Rule 2 12 criteria confidence 1

What colour were the WINGS ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Light outer edge or corners · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?: Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Dark band or bands running across the breast or neck · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Yellow · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Yellow · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Unknown
Was the HEAD striped ?: Yes · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Sparrow-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States

result:978-western-meadowlark:2:1 Source: 978 Western Meadowlark, row 2