The very characteristic (and somewhat comical) silhouette of the Western Meadowlark is a familiar sight on powerlines and fences throughout the prairie regions of western North America. Though its plumage is barely distinguishable from that of its cousin, the Eastern Meadowlark, its song is much richer, with loud descending flutelike notes and a musical gurgle at the end. See my short video clip (digiscoped with the Nikon P5100 in movie mode) of this Western Meadowlark singing at
http://www.birdforum.tv/members/action/viewvideo/1213/Western_Meadowlark__singing_/.
The American meadowlarks are not larks (family Alaudidae) at all, but belong to the family Icteridae. This group also includes the New World "blackbirds" and "orioles"--which, as European birdwatchers know, are neither true blackbirds (family Turdidae) nor true orioles (family Oriolidae)! As an added curiosity, the meadowlarks of the American prairies bear a striking resemblance to the Yellow-throated Longclaw (family Motacillidae) of the African grasslands! Similar plumage characteristics include cryptic brown upperparts, bright yellow underparts, a black gorget, and even some white on the outer parts of the tail!
