Songbird of the Prairie

 The Western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta as named by J.J. Audubon) ranges through most of the western and mid-western states, preferring grasslands, meadows, pastures and marsh edges.

The species can be readily identified as much by its “buoyant, flutelike, melodic song that rings out across open meadows” as it can be by its bright yellow breast and prominent black “V” pattern below the throat. The meadowlark is actually a member of the blackbird family. As a mostly ground feeder, it consumes seeds and insects. Its unique, strong, sharply pointed beak allows it to penetrate the ground and open holes to find insects that other birds cannot reach. The male usually has two mates at the same time. Females do all the incubating, brooding and most of the feeding. Draw your own comparisons to human males if you like.

This specimen was photographed May 2021 on a trip to the Badlands of South Dakota. Our first night there, we camped at a primitive park campground at the western end of the national park. The campground was riddled with prairie dogs and their mounded dens, so much so that you had to be careful where you walked. Apparently, we chose a campsite near a tall signpost that was the favorite spot for this male to voice to his lively and melodic song to the surrounding meadows and hills. As his song reverberated regularly for the entire afternoon and evening, we could see why many regard this specimen as “The Song Bird of the Prairie,” and his frequent visits back to this post provided ample opportunities to photograph this colorful, cheerful bird.