Photo: Linnaeus, 1758 / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Red-breasted Meadowlark
Leistes militaris
Red-breasted Meadowlark (Leistes militaris) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Red-breasted Meadowlark (Leistes militaris) is a member of the Icteridae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 48 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 militaris
Where it lives
Southeastern Nicaragua to northwestern Bolivia and north-central Brazil
Quick facts
- Weight
- 48 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Icteridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Red-breasted 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 Red-breasted Meadowlark is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Red-breasted Meadowlark (Leistes militaris) belongs to the Icteridae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA se Nicaragua to nw Bolivia and nc Brazil.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 48 g, with a wing length of about 8.8 cm and a tail of around 5.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 3.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Red-breasted Meadowlark?
The Red-breasted Meadowlark is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 48 g.
Where does the Red-breasted Meadowlark live?
The Red-breasted Meadowlark is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA se Nicaragua to nw Bolivia and nc Brazil, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Red-breasted Meadowlark belong to?
The Red-breasted Meadowlark (Leistes militaris) belongs to the Icteridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Red-breasted Meadowlark eat?
The Red-breasted Meadowlark is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Red-breasted Meadowlark migrate?
The Red-breasted Meadowlark is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Red-breasted 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 Red-breasted Meadowlark make?
1 real field recording of the Red-breasted Meadowlark — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Red-breasted Meadowlark's range?
The Red-breasted Meadowlark has a mapped global range of about 3.7 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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