Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)

County List:

Rule:

Mixed Forested/Nonforested or Nonforested Landscapes

      Small Grains/Forage Crops
      or Fields/Pasture

Habitat List:

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Literature:

Habitat: Western Meadowlarks are often found in short-grass prairies, agricultural fields, or other similarly dry open areas. They appear to prefer drier habitats than the closely related Eastern Meadowlark. In Michigan, this species appears to need large expanses and is normally found only in large blocks of open habitat. Nests are typically on the ground and lined with fine grass and covered by a grass dome.

Habitat: Grasslands, cultivated fields, and pastures, meadows, prairies. Breeds mostly in natural grasslands, abandoned weedy fields, rangeland, also sometimes on cultivated land. In the Midwest, seems to prefer shorter grass and drier fields than the sites chosen by Eastern Meadowlark. In winter, often in stubble fields and other farmland.

Diet: Mostly insects and seeds. Majority of diet consists of insects, especially in summer, when it eats many beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, caterpillars, ants, true bugs and others; also spiders, snails, sowbugs. Seeds and waste grain make up about one-third of annual diet and are eaten especially in fall and winter.