Western Meadowlark

The Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) is a medium-sized icterid bird whose song is synonymous with the North American West. John James Audubon described it in 1844; the specific epithet neglecta means “ignored” or “overlooked”; most explorers and settlers failed to distinguish it from the Eastern Meadowlark until Audubon formally separated the species. Meriwether Lewis noted subtle differences in tail, bill, and song as early as June 1805 near the Missouri River.

Identification: 22–26 cm length, ~41 cm wingspan; 88–116 g. Bright yellow underparts with a prominent black V-shaped breast band. Upperparts cryptically streaked brown and black. Diagnostic: the yellow of the throat extends into the malar (“mustache”) region; Eastern Meadowlark has a white malar. Long, pointed gray bill for “gaping”; inserting the bill into soil and forcing it open to access insects and seeds.

Vocalization: A buoyant, flute-like melody; more complex than the Eastern species; a rich, gurgling arpeggio of descending notes. Phonetic: tuuu-weet-tooo-twleedlooo. Males sing from fence posts, shrubs, or power lines to advertise territory. Low bell-like chupp or chuck call is innate and a reliable field mark.

Habitat and distribution: Consummate grassland species; native prairies, pastures, meadows, abandoned fields. In Alberta: central and southern portions; range expanded northward into the Peace River area with 20th-century forest clearing. In mountain regions: primarily foothills and lowlands; recorded up to 1,500 m in clearcuts and high plateaus. In overlap zones with Eastern Meadowlark, Western prefers thinner, drier vegetation.

Breeding: Ground-nesting; nests often partially covered by woven grass roof, sometimes with an entrance tunnel. Clutch 4–7 eggs; incubation 13–15 days. Males often polygynous (two mates). Young altricial; fed insects by parents.

Conservation: IUCN Least Concern, but Canada has lost more than half the population since 1970. Threats: habitat loss (agricultural intensification, mowing during nesting), fire suppression, invasive species, pesticides.

Runs: The resort’s Meadowlark runs (Upper, Lowest) in the Eagle area are named for this bird. Historically the corridor was known as the “Z-run” by patrol; the transition to “Meadowlark” aligns with Parks Canada ecological awareness.