WESTERN BIRDS Meadowlark 



It differs from the others in that it lacks the buffy 

 strip next to red patch. 



The Tricolor Red-wing (A. gubernator) occupies the 

 Pacific Coast from valleys of northwestern Oregon south 

 through California (west of Sierra Nevada), to northern 

 Lower California. It has dark red epaulettes edged with 

 white. The nests are more loosely constructed and 

 shallower. 



GENUS STURNELLA: MEADOWLARK. 



Meadowlark: Sturnella magna magna. 

 FAMILY— BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, ETC. 



No member of this large family is better known or 

 more beloved than that dweller of pastures and open 

 stretches, the Meadowlark. 



It is about ten and one-half, or eleven inches, in length 

 with long pointed bill, short tail, and rather stout body. 

 Its general upper plumage is brown, with many dark- 

 streaked, pale-edged feathers; light stripes on the middle 

 of the crown and over the eye, dark streak back of the 

 eye, and a yellow lore patch. The outer feathers of the 

 short tail are white, which show conspicuously in flight 

 and help identify the bird as far as seen. This flight, 

 also, is peculiar, being an alternation of slow sailing and 

 flapping. But the beautiful distinctive thing about the 

 male is the bright yellow under parts which are accentu- 

 ated by a deep black crescent across the breast. The 

 female is paler with yellow much duller and less con- 

 spicuous. The adults and immature in winter time have 

 the prevailing color rufous-brown, the breast crescent 

 veiled by buffy, and the yellow under parts duller. 



These birds are found breeding as far south as north- 

 em Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina, and west to 



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