From Opus

Sturnella magna

Photo by Martin Creasser
Photographed: Florida

[edit] Identification

A medium-sized icterid.

[edit] Adults

• Yellow underparts
• Black "V" on breast
• White flanks with black streaks
• Upperparts are mainly brown with black streaks
• Long pointed bill
• Head is striped with light brown and black

[edit] Similar Species

Very similar in appearance to the Western Meadowlark, but the Eastern usually has white malar instead of yellow. They are best distinguished by song.

[edit] Distribution

Across eastern North America to South America. The ranges of the Eastern and Western Meadowlarks overlap across the center of the continent. These birds are permanent residents throughout much of their range. Northern birds migrate to the southern parts of the range.

[edit] Taxonomy

The pale southwestern desert form, S. m. lilianae, was split by Sibley and Monroe as Lilian's Meadowlark. This split has not been accepted by subsequent authorities (AOU, Clements, Howard and Moore).
Polytypic. Consists of 17 subspecies.

[edit] Habitat

Their breeding habitat is grasslands and prairie, also pastures and hay fields.

[edit] Behaviour

These birds forage on the ground or in low vegetation, sometimes probing with its bill. They mainly eat insects, but also seeds and berries. In winter, they often feed in flocks. The nest is on the ground, covered with a roof woven from grasses. There may be more than one nesting female in a male's territory.

[edit] External Links