Western Meadowlark
The western meadowlark is the state bird of Montana, and was selected as the official state bird of Montana in 1931. It is familiar songbird of open country in the western two-thirds of North America.
The western meadowlark is a medium-sized bird with brown, black, and white spotted wings. The average size of this bird is 9.5 inches and 3 ounces. They have a yellow chest and underside, with the chest featuring a black marking in the shape of a V. They have a long, pointed tail and bill and a white stripe above and below both eyes.
Remarkably similar to the Eastern Meadowlark in colors and pattern, this bird is recognized by its very different song and call notes. The two species of meadowlarks evidently can easily recognize their own kind the same way; even where their ranges overlap in the Midwest and Southwest, they almost never interbreed. However, the two species do seem to see each other as potential rivals, and they actively defend territories against each other.
Read MoreThe western meadowlark is a medium-sized bird with brown, black, and white spotted wings. The average size of this bird is 9.5 inches and 3 ounces. They have a yellow chest and underside, with the chest featuring a black marking in the shape of a V. They have a long, pointed tail and bill and a white stripe above and below both eyes.
Remarkably similar to the Eastern Meadowlark in colors and pattern, this bird is recognized by its very different song and call notes. The two species of meadowlarks evidently can easily recognize their own kind the same way; even where their ranges overlap in the Midwest and Southwest, they almost never interbreed. However, the two species do seem to see each other as potential rivals, and they actively defend territories against each other.
