Photo Credit: Eastern Meadowlark – Doris Bookens, Macaulay Library.

Eastern Meadowlark

Sturnella magna

Compiled by Lisa S. Graham. 

The Eastern Meadowlark is a classic songbird of open country—hayfields, pastures, prairies, and roadside grasslands across much of eastern North America, a bright yellow bird perched low over a field, pouring out a flutelike song.  I’ve seen them at Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory in the open field on the left just as you enter the grounds.

Eastern Meadowlarks are medium-sized songbirds (about 8–11 inches long) with a chunky body and long, pointed bill. The bold yellow throat and belly, crossed by a distinctive black “V” on the breast, make adults unmistakable at close range. The back and wings are streaked brown and buff, giving excellent camouflage when the bird is on the ground.  Males and females look similar, though females tend to be slightly duller. Juveniles are streakier and paler until they mature.

They prefer open, grassy habitats and avoid dense woods and wetlands, favoring areas with low vegetation and scattered perches.  They move locally in response to food and weather – in winter they can form loose flocks.  They forage primarily on the ground, walking and probing with their bills for insects and other invertebrates during the breeding season. Insects (beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars) dominate their summer diet; seeds and grains become important in autumn and winter.

They’re best known for their rich, flutelike song—clear, rolled notes delivered from a low perch or from a short hovering song flight. Males sing to defend territory and attract mates.  They are often seen alone or in pairs during the breeding season but gather in small groups when not breeding.

They build a well-concealed cup-shaped nest on or near the ground, tucked into a grass tussock or beneath a little overhang of vegetation. Materials include grasses and plant fibers, lined with finer grasses.  Clutch size typically ranges from about 3 to 6 eggs. The female does most or all of the incubation (roughly two weeks), and both parents feed the young. Nestlings grow quickly and fledge within a couple of weeks, though fledglings may remain dependent for a short additional period.

The Eastern Meadowlark is both a soundtrack and a signal of healthy open country. Spotting one—often sitting atop a fencepost or singing from a low wire—offers a cheerful reminder that grasslands, even small ones, are vitally important habitat.

Some fun facts about the Eastern Meadowlark:

• They sing at night – most often when the moon is bright.
• They are members of the blackbird and oriole family – cousins to grackles.
• In Native American lore, they signify friendship and loyalty.

Sources include All About Birds (Cornell) and Audubon Field Guide.