MONTANA STATE BIRD

Western Meadowlark

( Sturnella neglecta )
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Emberizidae

In early morning its loud, melodic, clarion territorial song rings across the grassland, challenging you to locate this robin-sized, ground nesting bird. Usually singing from a fence post or low treetop, a sighting reveals a striking black V on the bright yellow belly of the male. Like most of its relatives in the blackbird family, the female is relatively drab, silent, and usually unnoticed.
The characteristic low flight, a brief flap and a glide, shows the short tail and the white outer tail feathers that are displayed on landing.
The Meadowlark builds a well-concealed nest in dense grass, with a grass roof, and lays 3-7 white and rusty-speckled eggs. In two weeks the eggs hatch and in two more the young strike out on their own.

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