The Western Meadowlark is indeed classified as a songbird. Songbirds are passerine birds from the order Passeriformes that use their vocal organ, called a syrinx, to produce musical sounds and melodies. There are over 5,000 species of songbirds, making them the most diverse order of birds. Some well-known songbird species include sparrows, finches, warblers, blackbirds, and the Western Meadowlark.
What makes a bird a songbird?
There are a few key characteristics that define songbirds:
- Order Passeriformes – Songbirds belong to the taxonomic order Passeriformes, which includes over half of all bird species. Passerines are characterized by three toes pointing forward and one toe pointing backward.
- Syrinx vocal organ – Songbirds have a unique vocal organ called a syrinx located at the bifurcation of their trachea into two bronchi. The syrinx allows them to produce more intricate vocalizations.
- Perching feet – Most songbirds have feet adapted for perching, with three toes facing forward and one facing backward. This helps them grip onto branches.
- Vocal songs and calls – Songbirds use their syrinx to create musical songs and melodies. Songs are used to define territories and attract mates.
The Western Meadowlark exhibits all of these songbird characteristics. It belongs to the order Passeriformes, has a syrinx organ, perching feet, and melodious songs. Therefore, it is classified as a songbird.
Western Meadowlark Description
The Western Meadowlark is a medium-sized songbird species found throughout the western half of North America. Here are some key identification features:
- Size: About 8.5-10.5 inches long with a wingspan of 16-18 inches
- Plumage: Brown upperparts with black V-shaped neck markings. Yellow underparts with a black V-shaped breast band. White outer tail feathers.
- Bill: Short, pointed bill
- Feet: Yellow legs and feet adapted for perching
- Behavior: Forages on the ground for insects. Tends to run instead of fly when approached.
- Habitat: Open grasslands, fields, meadows and prairies
- Song: Flute-like song starts with a few whistled notes followed by a complex warbling melody ending in a trill.
The Western Meadowlark is the state bird of six western states including Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, and Wyoming. It is a popular and easily-recognizable songbird of open prairie habitats.
Taxonomy and Classification
The Western Meadowlark, scientifically known as Sturnella neglecta, belongs to the family Icteridae and the order Passeriformes:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Passeriformes
- Family: Icteridae
- Genus: Sturnella
- Species: Sturnella neglecta
Some close relatives in the Icteridae family include the Eastern Meadowlark, Red-winged Blackbird, Yellow-headed Blackbird, and Bobolink. There are over 100 species in this diverse songbird family found mainly in North and South America.
Key Songbird Traits
The Western Meadowlark possesses all the characteristics that define songbirds in the order Passeriformes:
Syrinx
The Western Meadowlark has a syrinx vocal organ located at the base of its trachea. This allows the bird to produce diverse vocalizations ranging from simple chips to complex melodic songs.
Perching Feet
Its feet have three toes pointed forward and one toe pointed backward. This adapted anatomy helps the meadowlark grip branches and stalks as it perches.
Songs and Calls
The meadowlark has a beautiful, flute-like song of whistled notes followed by a melodic warbling ending in a trill. Males sing to mark territories and attract females during the breeding season. The species also uses calls and chips for communication.
Passeriformes Order
As a member of the genus Sturnella in the family Icteridae, the Western Meadowlark belongs to the diverse order Passeriformes. There are over 5,000 songbird species in this order.
Habitat and Range
The Western Meadowlark occupies open grassland habitats across much of western North America. Its breeding range extends from southern Canada south throughout the western United States. Some key areas include:
- Canada: Southern Saskatchewan, Alberta and southwestern Manitoba
- United States: Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Arizona across the central plains states from North Dakota to Texas
- Mexico: Northern and central regions
Winters are spent in the southern parts of the breeding range and south into Mexico. The Eastern Meadowlark occupies a similar range in the eastern half of North America.
Preferred habitats provide dense, grassy vegetation less than 2 feet tall, including native prairies, meadows, fields, roadsides and disturbed areas. They avoid habitats with woody shrubs.
Behavior and Diet
Western Meadowlarks spend much of their time walking along the ground foraging for food. Their diet consists mainly of insects and other invertebrates. Some favorite foods include:
- Beetles
- Grasshoppers
- Crickets
- Caterpillars
- Ants
- Bees
- Wasps
- Spiders
They supplement their diet with seeds and grains. When flushed, the meadowlark will often run through the grass rather than take flight. Males are highly territorial during breeding and defend their ground from other males.
Nesting and Reproduction
Western Meadowlarks begin forming pairs and breeding in early spring. The female builds a well-concealed nest on the ground woven from grasses and lined with soft vegetation. A clutch of 3-6 white eggs with brown spotting is laid. Incubation lasts about 14 days and the altricial hatchlings fledge from the nest in 9-10 days.
The birds may raise 2-3 broods per breeding season. Nests are vigorously defended against ground predators. Both the male and female help feed the young a diet of insects. The breeding season lasts from April to August across the range.
Population and Conservation Status
According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the global breeding population of Western Meadowlarks is estimated at about 22 million individuals. Trend data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey indicates populations are declining in some areas but stable or possibly increasing in other regions. Overall populations are believed to be decreasing slightly.
Habitat loss and degradation pose the biggest threats. Conversion of native prairies to cropland has reduced breeding grounds. Increased use of herbicides and pesticides also negatively impacts the birds. However, Western Meadowlarks remain fairly common across their wide range and their conservation status is listed as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN Red List.
Fun Facts
- The song of the Western Meadowlark can carry for over half a mile on open plains.
- Their yellow breast with a black V is said to look like a meadowlark in a farmer’s meadow.
- The Western Meadowlark walks or runs through vegetation more often than flying in order to stay concealed from predators.
- While foraging, they leave small patches of vegetation undisturbed to help conceal their nests from predators.
- Though state birds of 6 western states, ironically the Western Meadowlark is rarely seen in large urban areas.
- Females are slightly less colorful than males. Immature birds have drabber plumage until their first molt.
- They rub ants on their feathers which acts as an insecticide against lice and other feather parasites.
Conclusion
In summary, the Western Meadowlark is definitively classified as a songbird. It belongs to the diverse order Passeriformes which contains over 5,000 songbird species. The Western Meadowlark possesses key traits like a syrinx vocal organ, perching feet adapted for gripping branches, and a beautiful flute-like song. This iconic prairie songbird can be found singing and foraging on the ground across grasslands of western North America.