Meadowlark

Meadowlarks are very popular prairie songbirds. Their colorful appearance and cheerful songs led residents of six states, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon and Wyoming, to name them as the state bird (second only the the Cardinal in state bird popularity).

Icterid Species Brown-headed Cowbird Great-tailed Grackle Brewer's Blackbird Yellow-headed Blackbird Red-winged Blackbird Bullock's Oriole Hooded Oriole Types of Birds

There is a western and eastern variety, mostly distinguished by sound. Otherwise, males and females look similar to the meadowlark in the picture, both having a yellow breast marked with a dark "V" patch.

Males secure a territory and use their vocal abilities to attract females to the area for mating. They are ground nesters and both male and female participate in rearing the young.

© 2005-2007 Patricia A. Michaels