Meadowlarks

These are Meadowlarks. I believe they are Eastern Meadowlarks (Sturnella magna) although the Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) looks almost identical. Their ranges overlap and both are abundant in the Kerrville area this time of year. Their songs are different and could be used to distinguish the two species but I was too far away to hear them. The following description is true for both Eastern and Western Meadowlarks

Meadowlarks are medium-sized stocky songbirds with a yellow throat, chest, and belly. The black "V" across the chest is the distinguishing characteristic. They are not a true lark, nor a starling (as their scientific name suggests), but rather a member of the Icteridae family, along with blackbirds and orioles.

Found in grasslands, pastures, and other open habitat their diet consists of insects, especially grasshoppers and crickets. Meadowlarks feed on the ground, picking insects from the surface and also probing the soil.


They like sing sitting on a fence post facing the sun.

(CORRECTION: These are Western Meadowlarks. See this post.)