Eastern Meadowlark
| Sturnella magna | Order: Passeriformes | Family: Icteridae (Troupials and Allies) |
Sturnella magna
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)
This wonderful bird was once common in pastures, fields, and meadows. The beautiful yet simple whistled song lacks the rich, bubbly quality of the Western Meadowlark, but is equally lovely. Oddly, no state has made this species the state bird, though the Western Meadowlark is so designated by six states ( Montana, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, and Wyoming).
The song makes distinguishing the two species easy. Also, Western Meadowlarks have a yellow malar stripe (mustache) while it’s white in Eastern Meadowlarks. This can be tricky because the yellow throat is present in both, and the malar stripe is fairly narrow, between the yellow throat and white cheek. You can see a great comparison at Cornell’s All About Birds page.
Laura's Published Works
Radio Programs
- Tunnel Vision, Part 2 2023
- A Conversation with Don Kroodsma, Part 5: European Starling 2020
- Giving Mozart the Last Word on Starlings 2020
- Bird Declines, Part 2 2019
- Sharp-tailed Grouse 2019
- Adopt a Barn Cat Follow Up 2017
- Adopt a Barn Cat? Just Say NO! 2017
- My First Book: The Little Golden Book Bird Stamps 2014
- Spring Advancing 2006 2006
- Haying 2005
- A Walk in Port Wing 2004
- Mourning Dove Season 2004
- Nighthawks 2003
- Blackbird Poisoning 2001
- Global Warming 2001
- Familiar Places and Bluebirds (Robert Frost's Fragmentary Blue) 2001
- Robert Frost's The Exposed Nest 2001
- Meadowlarks 1999
- State Birds 1999
- Book Review: The Stokes Field Guide to Birds 1998
- Review: The Stokes Field Guide to Birds 1996
- Bird Populations 1991
- Where have all the birds gone? 1990
- Trends in bird populations 1989
- Diagnostic Bird Songs 1989
- Biking to Port Wing 1989
- Cats 1989
- Romeo and Juliet 1988
- Birding from a Car with Kids 1987
- Orioles 1987
- Migration Update 1987
- Romeo and Juliet 1986