Long-tailed Meadowlark
Leistes loyca
Long-tailed Meadowlark (Leistes loyca) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Long-tailed Meadowlark (Leistes loyca) is a member of the Icteridae family found in South America. Adults weigh 113 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Icteridae Oropendolas, New World Orioles, Blackbirds
- Genus Leistes
- Species loyca
Quick facts
- Weight
- 113 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Icteridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Long-tailed Meadowlark is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Long-tailed Meadowlark is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Long-tailed Meadowlark (Leistes loyca) belongs to the Icteridae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA Southern Cone.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 113 g, with a wing length of about 12.1 cm and a tail of around 9.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Long-tailed Meadowlark?
The Long-tailed Meadowlark is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 113 g.
Where does the Long-tailed Meadowlark live?
The Long-tailed Meadowlark is found across South America with a range covering SA Southern Cone, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Long-tailed Meadowlark belong to?
The Long-tailed Meadowlark (Leistes loyca) belongs to the Icteridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Long-tailed Meadowlark eat?
The Long-tailed Meadowlark is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Long-tailed Meadowlark migrate?
The Long-tailed Meadowlark is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Long-tailed Meadowlark endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Long-tailed Meadowlark make?
1 real field recording of the Long-tailed 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 Long-tailed Meadowlark's range?
The Long-tailed Meadowlark has a mapped global range of about 1.4 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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Guides for this bird
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