Western Meadowlark
Western Meadowlark
Adult
- Chunky songbird with long, sharp bill
- Long pink legs
- Bright yellow breast with black, "V"-shaped breast band
- Upperparts streaked tan and white
- © Ganesh Jayaraman, CA, Roseville, February 2010
Western Meadowlark
Adult
- Stocky body with long, pointed bill
- Short tail
- Bright yellow underparts
- Black "V"-shaped band on breast
- © Bob Gunderson, CA, San Jose, January 2011
Western Meadowlark
Adult in flight
- Short tail shows bright white outer feathers when fanned
- Heavy-bodied with long, pointed bill
- Bright yellow underparts
- © Stuart Oikawa, Manitoba, Canada, April 2010
Western Meadowlark
Adult winter
- Long, pointed bill
- Striped head
- Yellow breast and black "v" necklace fade in winter
- © Carlos Escamilla, TX, Laredo, December 2010
Western Meadowlark
Immature
- Stocky with long, pointed bill
- Tan patterned back with streaked flanks
- Immature shows faint yellow patches on breast and belly
- © Ron Kube, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, September 2009
Western Meadowlark
Adult
- Stocky and short-tailed
- Tan patterned back and dark-streaked flanks
- Bright yellow underparts
- Perches conspicuously on fence posts or on top of shrubs
- © Michael J. Andersen, MT, Simms, June 2011
Western Meadowlark
Adult in flight
- Long, pointed bill
- Stocky body with short tail
- Bright yellow underparts
- Black, "V"-shaped breast band
- © Cameron Rognan, CA, Arcata, December 2006
Western Meadowlark
Adult singing
- Stocky with long, pointed bill
- Bright yellow underparts
- Black "V"-shaped breast band
- Long pink legs
- © Jana Thompson, SD, Black Hills, April 2010
Similar Species
Adult
- Very similar to Western Meadowlark
- Best separated by voice
- Moustache stripe on Eastern is mostly plain white (yellow on Western)
- © CleberBirds, Lake Kissimmee , FL, April 2011
Adult female
- Similar to Western Meadowlark but smaller
- Shorter bill
- Dense dark streaking on underparts
- Black legs
- © hjhipster, Forsythe NWR, Oceanville, NJ, May 2010
Adult female
- Similar to Western Meadowlark but longer-tailed
- Rounded head
- Solid dark brown back and belly
- No black band on yellow breast
- © Pat Kavanagh, Alberta, Canada, May 2009
Adult male
- Similar to Western Meadowlark but smaller and more slender
- Black mask and "sideburns"
- Solid, sandy-brown back
- White belly
- © Bill Wynneck, Ontario, Canada, January 2011