Bird Guide

Chihuahuan Meadowlark vs Eastern Meadowlark

Chihuahuan Meadowlark (Sturnella lilianae)

Chihuahuan Meadowlark

Sturnella lilianae

Medium104 g

The Chihuahuan meadowlark is about 25 cm (9.8 in) long. It weighs 77 to 130 g (2.7 to 4.6 oz); males are larger than females. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a dark brown crown with a paler stripe through its middle. They have a supercilium that is dark yellow from the bill to the eye and whitish beyond it and a dark line from the eye to the nape on an otherwise whitish face. Their upperparts are brown with blackish barring and with white edges on the back and scapular feathers. Voice: The male Chihuahuan meadowlark's primary song is "3-5 descending whistles, sometimes started with a short low frequency (2-3 kHz) note". Both sexes give a "single, explosive" dzert call; when excited they chatter.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Sinaloa Silvestre · CC0
Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna)

Eastern Meadowlark

Sturnella magna

Medium92 gGrassland

The adult eastern meadowlark measures from 19 to 28 cm (7.5 to 11.0 in) in length and spans 35–40 cm (14–16 in) across the wings. Body mass ranges from 76 to 150 g (2.7 to 5.3 oz). The extended wing bone measures 8.9–12.9 cm (3.5–5.1 in), the tail measures 5.3–8.6 cm (2.1–3.4 in), the culmen measures 2.8–3.7 cm (1.1–1.5 in) and the tarsus measures 3.6–4.7 cm (1.4–1.9 in). Females are smaller in all physical dimensions. Adults have yellow underparts with a black "V" on the breast and white flanks with black streaks. The upperparts are mainly brown with black streaks.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Eastern Meadowlark
Recorded by Diana Doyle · Song · 3Canyons Ranch, United States · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Nosferattus · CC0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Chihuahuan Meadowlark and Eastern Meadowlark.