Which Bird Has The Most Melodious Song?

Western Meadowlark photo by D.W.Williams

Even though it’s been a rather gray, overcast day, I have seen several interesting birds today. Let’s start with this morning. As I was walking my Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Mika, I saw some birds fluttering around the thick buck brush. When I focused in on them with my binoculars, they turned out to be Golden-crowned Sparrows. I haven’t seen any of these guys lately as they primarily only winter here in northern California. Just below the sparrows, underneath the bushes I noticed a Rufous-sided Towhee.

Later, as the day went by, I had to drive into town to do some chores. This is always an adventure in bird watching as my trip is a twenty mile ride through the countryside. I always carry my binoculars with me because there are so many birds to see.

To my delight, one of the first sounds I heard while driving down the road was one of my favorite bird songs of all, the melodious call of the Western Meadowlark! Whenever I hear that beautiful song, I have to pull off to the side of the road and listen for awhile. The only bird song that I think even comes close is the Ash-throated Flycatcher. This is just one of the many songs you will hear from the Western Meadowlark:

[audio:http://www.buildyourownbirdhouseplans.com/audio/westernmeadowlark.mp3]

Western Meadowlark photo by D.W. Williams

As you can see from these great photos, this bird’s appearance is also striking. It has a black V-shaped breast band on yellow underparts and white flanks streaked with black. The upperparts are mostly brown, also streaked with black. It has a long pointed bill and it’s head is striped with light brown and black.

Their breeding habitats are grasslands, prairies, pastures and abandoned fields across western and central North America to northern Mexico. Their nests are situated on the ground and are usually covered with a roof woven from grass. They may also be completely open or have a complete roof and an entrance tunnel several feet long.

To listen to and watch this Western Meadowlark call to his mate click the arrow below.

Video by Derek Allnutt RedShoulderVids

Western Meadowlarks forage on the ground or in low to semi-low vegetation. They sometimes search for food by probing with their bills. They mainly eat insects, although they will devour seeds and berries also. In the winter they often feed in flocks. With their striking looks and beautiful melodious song is it any wonder that they are the state bird of Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon and Wyoming?

To continue my day, on the way home I saw a medium sized bird sitting atop an overhead power line. I pulled off the road again and took a closer look. Sure enough it was an American Kestrel. What a gorgeous specimen! I watched him through the binoculars for awhile as he stared back at me and then flew off into the top of an oak tree.

As I drove closer to home, I got into more oak trees and spotted our friend the Northern Flicker and the Acorn Woodpecker (who has got to be in heaven with all of the acorns we have this year). After I was home for a bit, I went outside to see how Brigitte was doing working on a new planting area and flying fairly low over our heads was a young Red-tailed hawk. These hawks are common where we live and we actually have a nesting pair on our property.

Well, such a wonderful birding day, I had to share with all of you. I want to thank DW Williams for the super photos of the Western Meadowlark. I will be posting on some of the other birds mentioned in this article soon.

Until then, happy birding!