Photo: synspectrum / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Eastern Meadowlark
Sturnella magna
Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) is a member of the Icteridae family found in Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Adults weigh 91.8 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Icteridae Oropendolas, New World Orioles, Blackbirds
- Genus Sturnella
- Species magna
Where it lives
Southeastern Canada to northeastern Brazil
Quick facts
- Weight
- 91.8 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Icteridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Eastern Meadowlark is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Eastern Meadowlark is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) is a member of the Icteridae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Its distribution covers NA, MA, SA se Canada to ne Brazil.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 91.8 g, with a wing length of about 10.8 cm and a tail of around 6.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Eastern Meadowlark?
The Eastern Meadowlark is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 91.8 g.
Where does the Eastern Meadowlark live?
The Eastern Meadowlark is found across Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America with a range covering NA, MA, SA se Canada to ne Brazil, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Eastern Meadowlark belong to?
The Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) belongs to the Icteridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Eastern Meadowlark eat?
The Eastern Meadowlark is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Eastern Meadowlark migrate?
The Eastern Meadowlark is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Eastern Meadowlark endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Eastern Meadowlark make?
1 real field recording of the Eastern Meadowlark — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Eastern Meadowlark's range?
The Eastern Meadowlark has a mapped global range of about 7 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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