# Meadowlark (*Sturnella magna*) Meadowlarks are beautiful birds with bright yellow bellies and melodious songs. They love to hop around in open fields and grasslands, searching for insects and seeds to eat. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 11 - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** Eastern Meadowlark ![Meadowlark](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426650/objects/6233.jpg) ## Appearance The Meadowlark has a bright yellow breast with a striking black V-shaped band across it. Its back is mottled brown and streaky, helping it blend into tall grasses. This bold yellow and black pattern makes it instantly recognizable in open fields. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Icteridae - **Genus:** Sturnella ## Interesting facts - Each meadowlark species has a unique song, like a special secret handshake for their kind! - Meadowlarks stomp their feet on the ground to make tasty worms come to the surface! - The black 'V' on their chest helps meadowlarks quickly recognize other meadowlarks. - Their nests are often roofed with grass, making them like tiny, secret bird caves! ## Special abilities - **Melodious Messenger:** Meadowlark can sing a beautiful, clear, flute-like song to attract mates and declare its territory. - **Grassland Camouflage:** Meadowlark has mottled brown feathers on its back that help it blend perfectly into tall grass, avoiding predators. - **Hidden Nest Builder:** Meadowlark can construct a dome-shaped nest on the ground, cleverly woven into grasses to protect its eggs. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 19-28 cm - **Wingspan:** 35-40 cm - **Weight:** 0.07-0.12 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-8 years - **Speed:** 60 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-7 - **Incubation:** 13-16 days - **Migration Distance:** 1500 km ## Diet & Feeding Meadowlarks eat a yummy mix of insects and seeds, especially grasshoppers and crickets! - **Age differences:** Young birds primarily eat protein-rich insects for rapid growth and development. - **Primary Foods:** grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, caterpillars, grass seeds, berries - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — A common predator in open fields. - **Eaten by:** [Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — Hunts ground-nesting birds and eggs. - **Eats:** [Differential Grasshopper](https://www.snappit.app/explore/differential-grasshopper) (*Melanoplus differentialis*) — A major food source in meadows. - **Eats:** [Kentucky Bluegrass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/kentucky-bluegrass) (*Poa pratensis*) — Eats seeds from this common grass. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy watching meadowlarks from a distance to avoid disturbing their nests. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Meadowlark? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Meadowlark? 19-28 cm ### What is Meadowlark's wingspan? 35-40 cm ### How much does Meadowlark weigh? 0.07-0.12 kg ### How long does Meadowlark live? 2-8 years ### How fast can Meadowlark move? 60 km/h ### What does Meadowlark eat? Meadowlarks eat a yummy mix of insects and seeds, especially grasshoppers and crickets! ### Where is Meadowlark usually found? Grasslands ## Where to spot - [Fort Monroe National Monument](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-monroe-national-monument) — Virginia, US · National Park - [Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/midewin-national-tallgrass-prairie) — Illinois, US · Forest - [Dallas Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dallas-zoo) — Texas, US · Zoo - [Holy City of the Wichitas Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/holy-city-of-the-wichitas-historic-district) — Oklahoma, US · Historic District - [Powhatan Courthouse Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/powhatan-courthouse-historic-district) — Virginia, US · Historic District - [Rugby](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rugby) — Tennessee, US · Neighborhood [View all places to see Meadowlark](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/meadowlark) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Meadowlark: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/meadowlark)