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Western Meadowlark |
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Sturnella neglecta |
| Description: 8 1/2-11" Robin-sized, streaked brown above, bright yellow below with bold black V on chest, best ID'ed by voice, dark stripes on crown and behind eye, sharply-pointed bill | Habitat: Pastures, meadows, grassy plains, prairies, foothills, open country, country roadsides. Often seen singing from fence posts. Song is best way to separate Eastern and Western Meadowlark. |
| Nesting: 3-7 white eggs with dark brown and purple spots, in a domed cup of grass and weed stems concealed in grass or weeds | Range: Breeds from Alaska, Manitoba to N. Michigan, south to Texas, winters to north U.S, British Columbia. |
| Voice: Rich flute-like jumble of gurgling notes, usually descending the scale | Diet: includes spiders, sowbugs, snails, grass, and forb seeds |
| Notes: similar to eastern variety, territorial where mixed, males repertoire 12 songs, roosts on ground, large flocks in winter |
| When present in Oklahoma: heavy year-round in western part of state, sparse farther east |