The meadowlark is a familiar and recognizable bird across North America, commonly found in open habitats like grasslands, prairies, and fields. This medium-sized songbird, a member of the blackbird family Icteridae, is known for its distinct coloring. Meadowlarks are often seen perched on fence posts or foraging on the ground, making them easily spotted in open country environments.
Overall Size and Shape
The meadowlark is a chunky, robust bird, typically comparable in size to an American Robin, though it possesses a stouter build and a shorter tail. It has a somewhat flat head and a long, pointed, spear-shaped bill well-suited for probing the ground for insects and seeds. The bird maintains a round-shouldered posture that often makes its neck appear nearly nonexistent.
In flight, the meadowlark’s rounded wings and short, stiff tail give it a distinctive flight pattern, often described as rapid fluttering followed by short glides. Its overall length ranges between 7.5 to 10.2 inches, with a wingspan that can reach up to 16 inches. The combination of its stocky body and long bill provides a unique silhouette.
Key Plumage Markings
The most defining visual feature of the meadowlark is the vibrant coloration on its underside, which contrasts sharply with its camouflage-focused back. The breast and belly are a brilliant, clear yellow, which serves as a bold signal when the bird is perched or singing. This bright yellow is interrupted by a prominent, jet-black, V-shaped band, or gorget, which stretches across the upper chest.
The upper parts, including the back, wings, and head, are intricately patterned with streaks of brown, black, and buff colors. This streaked plumage provides superb camouflage, allowing the bird to blend seamlessly into the dry grasses and stubble of its open habitat. When the bird is flushed from the ground, a flash of white becomes visible on the outer tail feathers, which is helpful for identification during flight. During the non-breeding season, the yellow plumage may appear slightly duller, and the black V-shape can be partially obscured by the pale tips of the new feathers.
Subtle Differences Between Species
While the two widespread species, the Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) and the Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta), look almost identical, subtle distinctions exist. The visual differences are most reliable in spring and summer breeding plumage when the colors are at their brightest. One noticeable variation is in the facial markings, specifically the area near the lower mandible known as the malar region.
The Western Meadowlark tends to have the yellow of its throat extending further up and into the malar area, making the cheek appear more yellow overall. Conversely, the Eastern Meadowlark typically exhibits a pale or white malar stripe that creates a greater contrast with the bright yellow of the throat. The Eastern species usually shows a slightly greater amount of white on the outer tail feathers compared to its western counterpart. The Eastern Meadowlark may also possess a slightly darker, more reddish-brown tone on its back, while the Western species often appears a paler, more buffy-brown color above.