EASTERN MEADOWLARK
PR

As the name implies, the meadowlark is a bird of the open spaces; therefore do not look for him in wooded areas. Sometimes he is mistaken for a bobwhite, but certainly there is no excuse for this error.

The meadowlark is a large bird averaging eleven inches in length. A long bill and short stubby tail are characteristics of the bird. Another important item to look for is the golden yellow breast slashed across by a black-as-a-crow crescent. When the bird flies, the white outer tail feathers are as visible as semaphore flags. If seen on the ground, this handsome individual does not hop or run but walks with a deliberate stride.

The meadowlark is one of the most valuable friends a farmer can have. It feeds always on the ground where it consumes great quantities of grasshoppers, beetles, and caterpillars. Also ingested are many kinds of noxious wild seeds.

The meadowlark builds a dome-shaped nest of grass on the ground usually in a clump of hay, alfalfa or weeds. Because eggs and young are taken by skunks, field mice and snakes, often two broods are hatched to compensate for these losses.

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