The Western Meadowlark
Scientific Name: Sturnella neglecta
 Oregon's State Bird:
The Western Meadowlark is a medium-sized blackbird, very similar in appearance to the Eastern Meadowlark.
The adult Meadowlarks have a long pointed bill and the head is striped with light brown and black. The have yellow underparts with a black "V" on the breast and white flanks with black streaks. The upperparts are mainly brown with black streaks.
Their breeding habitat is grasslands, prairies, pastures and abandoned fields across western and central North America to northern Mexico. Where their range overlaps with the eastern species, these birds prefer thinner, drier vegetation; the two birds generally do not interbreed but do defend territory against each other. The nest is on the ground, covered with a roof woven from grasses. There may be more than one nesting female in a male's territory.
These birds are permanent residents throughout much of their range. Northern birds migrate to the southern parts of the range; some birds also move east in the southern United States.
The Western Meadowlarks forage on the ground or in low vegetation, sometimes probing with its bill. They mainly eat insects, also seeds and berries. In winter, they often feed in flocks.
They have a flute-like warbled song, unlike the simple whistled call of the Eastern Meadowlark. They were considered to be the same species for some time.
Oregon is not the only state that raises this bird to statehood. These other states also claim it to be their state bird: Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota and Wyoming.
We never miss the music until the sweet voiced bird has flown away. -O. Henry
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