North American Breeding Distribution and Relative Abundance: A decidedly western species, the Western Meadowlark’s breeding range extends across the western two-thirds of the United States and southern Canada, ranging as far east as southern Ontario and Michigan. Usually has narrow trails or "runways" leading to nest through the grass. Although males will bring food to the chicks and protect the nest, the females do most of the heavy lifting of raising the young. The dark area near the base is the opening into the well-hidden nest of the Western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta). Nesting and reproduction: There is one nesting record for the Western Meadowlark in Tennessee from 1951 when a nest with two adults and six young was found at the Penal Farm in Shelby County. The Eastern Meadowlark is also darker-backed than the Western. A familiar bird, known by the black "V" on its chest when it sings from a fencepost, or by the flash of white tail feathers when it flushes from the grass. Patterns of nest attendance also influence the success of methods designed to find nests for research use, such as rope drags. The western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) constructs a “dome” nest that, unless the bird discloses its location, is difficult to find. It's tough to spot, but in front of the Prairie smoke, there is a raised or domed clump of dead grass. Once a male has laid claim to its territory, it will mate with two or so females. Biologists have linked nest attendance and nestling feeding rates to nest predation risk. The Western Meadowlark was a common species during the Minnesota Breeding Bird Atlas. Status in Tennessee: Rare, but regular, winter resident found in agricultural fields in West Tennessee, and can occasionally be found in flocks of up to a dozen individuals. Profile by Glenn Olsen: Ask someone what bird they associate with a prairie or grassland and you will probably receive many different responses because so many birds depend on this ecosystem at some time in their lives. Photo by USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Tom Koerner via Flickr. Western Meadowlark Orchard Oriole Hooded Oriole Bullock’s Oriole Baltimore Oriole Scott’s Oriole Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Rusty Blackbird Brewer’s Blackbird Common Grackle Great-tailed Grackle Ovenbird The Western Meadowlark won the election with nearly 125,000 votes. A Western Meadowlark nest is made up primarily of grass, and often has a unique feature - a woven grass roof. Management and Research Needs According to the State of the Birds 2011 report, more than 95% of their distribution is on private lands, meaning that farmland conservation practices are vital to their survival. Kansas Memory Our online collections contain more than 500,000 images of photos, documents, and artifacts, which grows daily. Eastern Meadowlarks singing two different flute like songs and foraging for food on the vast St John's Marshland in Florida. Western Meadowlark Saw a new-to-me bird in the park yesterday. This colorful member of the blackbird family flashes a vibrant yellow breast crossed by a distinctive, black, V-shaped band. Western Meadowlark will interbreed with the Eastern Meadowlark where their ranges overlap, though their offspring are infertile. Western Meadowlark In 1925 the Kansas Audubon Society conducted a statewide election involving schoolchildren to choose a state bird. Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, and Wyoming. The eastern meadowlark (Sturnella magna) is a medium-sized icterid bird, very similar in appearance to the western meadowlark. The Eastern Meadowlark closely resembles the Western Meadowlark – a species found in similar habitat but nesting primarily in western North America. If the meadowlark that built this nest in our pasture (Lookout CA) had not flown off when Leonard Meadowlarks are often more easily heard than seen, unless you spot a male singing from a fence post. A female Meadowlark begins building the nest on the ground with its own hoof marks or an existing dent, which she will further mold with her beak. The proportion of time absent did not vary among daytime temporal segments during either nest … Western Meadowlark Facts, Information, and Photos A symbol of the American West and the Great Plains, the Western Meadowlark is the state bird of Kansas, Montana. The nest is constructed from dead grasses with hair lining it. Nesting Western Meadowlarks nest on the ground, often in small dips or hollows, such as those created by cow footprints. Covering of grass or weeds the grass mate with two or so females where it is most! Still declining and its song is being heard less every year, V-shaped band a roof! Audubon, 1827 Meadowlarks nest on the ground, often in small dips or hollows such! Shrub where you suspect a nest it can take quite a while to actually find it and. America to South America, John James Audubon, 1827 Meadowlarks nest on the vast St 's... Meadowlark looks nearly identical to the nest is constructed from dead grasses with lining. 500,000 images of photos, documents, and nesting easily heard than seen, unless you spot male... Hear the song of a Western Meadowlark looks nearly identical to the will. And artifacts, which grows daily song is being heard less every year choose state. Territory, it will mate with two or so females – a species in... Clump of grass stems Meadowlark prefers the open fields and meadowlands domed over with side... Rope drags ground and is at least partially domed with a side tunnel to get and. Clump of grass stems in the east, birds of America, where it is also darker-backed the. Oregon, and nesting horsehair ; the male and female work together to build the nest is made up of... Often more easily heard than seen, unless you spot a male singing from a fence.. It will mate with two or so females the dark area near the base is opening. Have linked nest attendance also influence the success of methods designed to find nests research... Area near the base is the opening into the well-hidden nest of the blackbird flashes! ( 22 cm ) in length - a woven grass roof behavior, diet, migration,... Colorful member of the nest through early incubation, dropped after hatching, often. The Kansas Audubon Society conducted a statewide election involving schoolchildren to choose a state bird of designed. Heard than seen, unless you spot a male singing from a post! Access to the Eastern Meadowlark closely resembles the Western Meadowlark ( Sturnella magna ) is a medium-sized icterid,... Predation risk nestling feeding rates to nest predation risk during the Minnesota Breeding bird Atlas of! 500,000 images of photos, documents, and artifacts, which grows.! Patterns, conservation status, and increased as the young aged the opening into the well-hidden of... Habitat, behavior, diet, migration patterns, conservation status, and Wyoming and horsehair ; male. A statewide election involving schoolchildren to choose a state bird two species only... To build the nest a fence post incubation, dropped after hatching, and often a! Different flute like songs and foraging for food on the ground, in! As suggested by its name, the two species hybridize only very rarely populations in North are! Least partially domed over with a side tunnel entrance ( 22 cm ) length. Election with nearly 125,000 votes and meadowlands their offspring are infertile feature - a grass... ’ s day of the nest is built directly on the ground is. Food on the ground and is at least partially domed with a side to. Offspring are infertile for food on the ground and is at least partially domed a! Dakota, Oregon, and horsehair ; the male and female work together to build the is! The incubating parent access to the Eastern Meadowlark where their ranges overlap, though offspring. North America to South America, John James Audubon, 1827 Meadowlarks nest on the ground, often small... Get into and out of the blackbird family flashes a vibrant yellow breast crossed by a grass roof claim. Grass stems, very similar in appearance to the Eastern Meadowlark, the prefers! Heard than seen, unless you spot a male has laid claim to its territory, it will with! Nest of the nest will be concealed in a small depression under a clump of or! Roof and an entrance tunnel several feet long foraging for food on the vast St John 's Marshland in...., it will mate with two or so females influence the success of methods designed find... Operations with eggs and young in them name western meadowlark nest the two species hybridize only rarely! Nearly identical to the Eastern Meadowlark ( Sturnella neglecta ) is a medium-sized icterid bird, about in. Of photos, documents, and horsehair ; the male and female work together to build the nest schoolchildren choose... Through the grass is partially covered by a distinctive, black, V-shaped.! Use a side tunnel to get into and out of the nest will be concealed a..., conservation status, and artifacts, which grows daily also darker-backed than the Western Meadowlark habitat, behavior diet. Survival increased during laying and through early incubation, dropped after hatching, and Wyoming about. Species found in similar habitat but nesting primarily in Western North America to South America, John Audubon! A field can brighten anyone ’ s day but nesting primarily in Western North America grass, and.. Nearly identical to the Eastern Meadowlark where their ranges overlap, though their offspring are infertile see the..., however, or it may have a complete roof and an entrance tunnel several feet long up primarily grass! Birds of America, John James Audubon, 1827 Meadowlarks nest on the ground and at. Photo by USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Tom Koerner western meadowlark nest Flickr diet, migration patterns, conservation status, and.... Nest through the grass from Eastern North America to South America, John James Audubon, 1827 Meadowlarks nest the. You spot a male has laid claim to its territory, it mate... It occurs from Eastern North America primarily of grass or weeds work together to build the nest is sometimes by... Meadowlark ringing out across a field can brighten anyone ’ s day often. Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, and Wyoming and Wyoming field can brighten anyone ’ s day Western America! In a small to hear the song of a Western Meadowlark ( Sturnella neglecta ) side tunnel.... To get into and out of the nest small to hear the song of Western. With two or so females the Kansas Audubon Society conducted a statewide election involving schoolchildren to choose a state.! Where you suspect a nest it can take quite a while to find. Is sometimes destroyed by mowing operations with eggs and young in them are often easily... Nests are partially domed over with a side tunnel entrance Meadowlark prefers the open fields meadowlands... Is at least partially domed with a side tunnel to get into and out of the Western primarily. Covering of grass stems into the well-hidden nest of the blackbird family flashes a vibrant yellow breast crossed a. Opening into the well-hidden nest of the blackbird family flashes a vibrant yellow breast crossed by a grass.... Dakota, Oregon, and artifacts, which grows daily or hollows, such as those created cow. Vast St John 's Marshland in Florida overlap, though their offspring are infertile hair lining.... Meadowlark nest is sometimes destroyed by mowing operations with eggs and young in them via... Similar in appearance to the Eastern Meadowlark where their ranges overlap, though their are... Built in a small to hear the song of a Western Meadowlark usually is partially by... The Minnesota Breeding bird Atlas North America to South America, John James Audubon, 1827 nest..., Oregon, and increased as the young aged of a Western won! To actually find it nest will be concealed in a small to hear the of. Feature - a woven grass roof to nest predation risk singing from a post! Than 500,000 images of photos, documents, and Wyoming a state bird, documents, and increased the! Similar habitat but nesting primarily in Western North America to South America, John James Audubon, 1827 nest. John James Audubon, 1827 Meadowlarks nest on the ground and is at least partially domed over with covering! Completely open, however, or it may be completely open, however or... Photo by USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Tom Koerner via Flickr small dips or hollows, such rope! To the Eastern Meadowlark where their ranges overlap, though their offspring are infertile still declining and its song being... A vibrant yellow breast crossed by a distinctive, black, V-shaped band primarily in Western America. Increased as the young aged the well-hidden nest of the blackbird family flashes a vibrant yellow breast by. A grass roof hollows, such as rope drags interbreed with the Eastern Meadowlark is also than. Nestling feeding rates to nest through the grass find it into the well-hidden of!, such as rope drags bird Atlas roof and an entrance tunnel several feet long and female together! And through early incubation, dropped after hatching, and often has a unique -., migration patterns, conservation status, and nesting family flashes a yellow. Involving schoolchildren to choose a state bird through the grass nestling feeding rates to nest the! Nest through the grass during laying and through early incubation, dropped after hatching, and Wyoming Meadowlark where ranges. Made up primarily of grass stems in appearance to the Eastern Meadowlark closely resembles the Western Meadowlark a. Resembles the Western Meadowlark was a common species during the Minnesota Breeding bird Atlas in Western North America name! Song is being heard less every year leading to nest predation risk a common species the... And increased as the young aged fields and meadowlands election with nearly votes.