Similar Species
Western Meadowlark
Breeding adult
Westerns Meadowlarks have a yellow mustache stripe while Easterns have a white mustache.
© Greg Gillson | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, October 30, 2016Similar Species
Western Meadowlark
Breeding adult
Western Meadowlarks have less white on the outer tail feathers than Easterns, but this difference can be hard to judge.
© Susan Disher | Macaulay LibraryNorth Dakota, June 15, 2014Similar Species
Bobolink
Female/nonbreeding male
Female and nonbreeding Bobolinks are smaller and slimmer, with much shorter bills and more uniform buff coloring than Eastern Meadowlarks.
© Juan D Astorga | Macaulay LibraryAlajuela, October 18, 2016Similar Species
Savannah Sparrow
Adult (Savannah)
Savannah Sparrows are much smaller with a shorter bill and whitish, not yellow, underparts unlike the large and long-billed Eastern Meadowlark.
© Don Blecha | Macaulay LibraryIllinois, April 23, 2017Main Species
Eastern Meadowlark
Breeding adult (Eastern)
Chunky, medium-sized songbird with a short tail, and a long, spear-shaped bill. Breeding birds are bright yellow below with a black V on the chest.
© Doris Brookens | Macaulay LibraryFlorida, March 26, 2017Nonbreeding (Eastern)
Chunky, flat-headed grassland bird with a long, pointed bill. Nonbreeding birds are paler yellow below.
© Mark Scheuerman | Macaulay LibraryTexas, December 14, 2016Breeding adult (Eastern)
Males sing a flutelike whistle in open areas, usually from an exposed perch.
© Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibraryMissouri, May 01, 1999Breeding adult (Lilian's)
Eastern Meadowlarks (Lilian's) in the Southwest have more white in the tail, grayer upperparts, and more contrastingly white cheeks than other Eastern Meadowlarks.
© Dawn Zappone | Macaulay LibraryArizona, March 19, 2017Breeding adult (Lilian's)
Eastern Meadowlarks (Lilian's) in the Southwest have more white in the tail, grayer upperparts, and more contrastingly white cheeks than other Eastern Meadowlarks.
© Walt Anderson | Macaulay LibraryArizona, March 17, 2017Adult (Eastern)
Forages for insects such as grasshoppers and caterpillars or seeds by probing ground with their shear-shaped bill.
© Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibraryTexas, March 01, 2002Breeding adult (Eastern)
Sings from exposed perches such as treetops, fenceposts, and utility lines. Note yellow throat bordered by a white mustache.
© Yeray Seminario | Macaulay LibraryCoclé, January 01, 2016Breeding adult (Eastern)
Found in farm fields, grasslands, and wet fields.
© Steve Kelling | Macaulay LibraryNew York, April 18, 2016Adult (Eastern)
Heavy streaking on their backs help Eastern Meadowlarks to hide from predators when foraging or walking on the ground.
© Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibraryTexas, March 01, 2002Breeding adult (Eastern)
Preens and stretches frequently in the morning or following incubation.
© Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibraryMissouri, May 01, 1999