Two species of meadowlark are present in Illinois: the eastern meadowlark and the western meadowlark. They are very difficult to tell apart by sight, but their song can help identify them. Both birds have yellow breast feathers with a large, black “v” marking. The white, outer, tail feathers may be seen when the bird flies.

Meadowlark is the quarterly magazine of the Illinois Ornithological Society. The journal includes field notes, seasonal highlights, technical papers on avian studies in Illinois and the Midwest, photos, original drawings, and joy-of-birding essays.

Two species of meadowlark are present in Illinois: the eastern meadowlark and the western meadowlark. They are very difficult to tell apart by sight, but their song can help identify them. Both birds have yellow breast feathers with a large, black “v” marking. The white, outer, tail feathers may be seen when the bird flies.

Meadowlarks are ground-nesting birds, and they construct a woven nest bowl of grassy litter with at least a partial canopy (Fig. 2). Rope dragging makes finding these cryptic nests a substantially more efficient process. Searching for nests took place from late March through early July of 2022, with most nests being found in late April to mid-May.

Remarkably similar to the Eastern Meadowlark in colors and pattern, this bird is recognized by its very different song and callnotes. The two species of meadowlarks evidently can easily recognize their own kind the same way; even where their ranges overlap in the Midwest and Southwest, they almost never interbreed.

Continuation of the black-bird mini-series: Eastern Meadow Lark (Dallas, 03.24.03) posted 04.08.03

Use the Meadowlark Species Index to search for and display every page in Meadowlark with a reference to a specific species. The following is a list of articles published in Meadowlark over the past 24 years. The latest issue is at the bottom of this list.

The buoyant, flutelike melody of the Western Meadowlark ringing out across a field can brighten anyone’s day. Meadowlarks are often more easily heard than seen, unless you spot a male singing from a fence post. This colorful member of the blackbird family flashes a vibrant yellow breast crossed by a distinctive, black, V-shaped band.

As the season changes and birds migrate south, Meadow lark too is changing, migrating to higher planes. It's as thrilling for us to work on completing and improving each issue as it is to enjoy a plethora of Broad winged Hawks riding thermals in the sky on a brisk autumn. day.

Two species of meadowlark are present in Illinois: the eastern meadowlark and the western meadowlark. They are very difficult to tell apart by sight, but their song can help identify them. Both birds have yellow breast feathers with a large, black “v” marking. The white, outer, tail feathers may be seen when the bird flies.