Eastern Meadowlark

birds · meadows · singers · North America

Beautiful singer. The eastern meadowlark is famous for its loud, clear whistling song that sounds like it's saying 'spring-of-the-year' or 'tea-you.' You can hear them singing from fields and grasslands across the eastern United States.

Striking colors. This medium-sized bird has a bright yellow chest with a bold black V-shaped marking, plus brown streaked wings that help it blend in when it lands on the ground.

Huge range. Eastern meadowlarks live across eastern North America, Central America, and northern South America, making them one of the most widespread meadowlarks in the world.

Confusing cousin. The eastern meadowlark looks almost identical to the western meadowlark, and for a long time scientists thought they might be the same species until they realized they were actually separate birds.

Grassland dweller. These birds prefer open meadows, prairies, and fields where they can perch on tall grasses and spot insects to eat on the ground.