Western Meadowlark

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Western Meadowlark

Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Icteridae
Genus: Sturnella
Species: S. neglecta
Binomial name
Sturnella neglecta
Audubon, 1844

The Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) is a medium-sized blackbird, very similar in appearance to the Eastern Meadowlark.

Adults 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.

Their breeding habitats are 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; the two types of birds generally do not interbreed but do defend territory against one another. Their nests are situated on the ground, and 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 in them.

Western Meadowlarks will interbreed with Eastern Meadowlarks where their ranges overlap, although their offspring are infertile.[citation needed]

Western Meadowlarks 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.

These birds forage on the ground or in low to semi-low vegetation. They sometimes search for food by probing with their bills. They mainly eat insects, although they will devour seeds and berries. In winter, these birds often feed in flocks.

These birds have a flute-like warbled song. These calls contrast with the simple, whistled call of the Eastern Meadowlark.

These two species were considered to be the same species for some time; the western species, having been overlooked for some time, was given the species name neglecta.

This is the state bird of Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon and Wyoming.

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Contents

[edit] References

[edit] External links

[edit] Further reading

[edit] Book

  • Lanyon, W. E. 1994. Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta). In The Birds of North America, No. 104 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, D.C.: The American Ornithologists’ Union.

[edit] Thesis

  • Davis SK. Ph.D. (2003). Habitat selection and demography of mixed-grass prairie songbirds in a fragmented landscape. The University of Regina (Canada), Canada.
  • Horn AG. Ph.D. (1987). Repertoires and song switching in western meadowlarks (Sturnella neglecta). University of Toronto (Canada), Canada.
  • Pierce AM. Ph.D. (1974). ENERGETICS AND WATER ECONOMY IN THE WESTERN MEADOWLARK, STURNELLA NEGLECTA. University of California, Irvine, United States -- California.

[edit] Articles

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  • Falls JB, Horn AG & Dickinson TE. (1988). How Western Meadowlarks Classify Their Songs Evidence from Song Matching. Animal Behaviour. vol 36, no 2. p. 579-585.
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  • Fitzner RE, Berry D, Boyd LL & Rieck CA. (1977). Nesting of Ferruginous Hawks Buteo-Regalis in Washington 1974-1975. Condor. vol 79, no 2. p. 245-249.
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  • Hanebrink EL. (1971). Dilute Albinism in a Western Meadowlark Collected in Mississippi County Arkansas. Migrant. vol 42, no 4.
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  • Horn A & Falls JB. (1988). Structure of Western Meadowlark Sturnella-Neglecta Song Repertoires. Canadian Journal of Zoology. vol 66, no 2. p. 284-288.
  • Horn AG. (1988). Interspecific Aggression in Western Meadowlarks Sturnella-Neglecta Re-Directed Aggression?. Journal of Field Ornithology. vol 59, no 3. p. 224-226.
  • Horn AG, Dickinson TE & Falls JB. (1993). Male quality and song repertoires in western meadowlarks (Sturnella neglecta). Canadian Journal of Zoology. vol 71, no 5. p. 1059-1061.
  • Horn AG & Falls JB. (1988). REPERTOIRES AND COUNTERSINGING IN WESTERN MEADOWLARKS (STURNELLA-NEGLECTA). Ethology. vol 77, no 4. p. 337-343.
  • Horn AG & Falls JB. (1988). Responses of Western Meadowlarks Sturnella-Neglecta to Song Repetition and Contrast. Animal Behaviour. vol 36, no 1. p. 291-293.
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