LIST AND DESCRIPTION 107 



and of the willow bordered river. It nests commonly over the 

 State, and, being one of the Starlings, all of which are weavers, 

 it fastens its nest securely among the rushes. Early in the fall 

 these birds gather in large flocks before migrating southward. 



498d. THICK-BILLED REDWING (Agelaius Phoeniceus fortis.) 



Similar in plumage to the preceding but larger, with bill 

 shorter and thicker. Breeds in Western Canada. Seen in South 

 Dakota only in migration. This is the Blackbird observed feed- 

 ing in large flocks early in winter. Small flocks have been seen 

 in Clay County in January. 



501. 1. WESTERN MEADOWLARK (Sturnella neglecta.) 



There are two species of Meadowlarks in the Northern 

 States, the Eastern (Sturnella magna) and the Western (Sturnella 

 neglecta). In our latitude the eastern State line of South 

 Dakota is about the dividing line of the range of the two species. 

 For a considerable distance east or west of this line there is much 

 overlapping of their range and perhaps interbreeding, producing 

 intermediates. Some believe that the range of the western 

 form is gradually extending eastward. It is also smaller 

 +Van the eastern form. There is a wide difference in the song- 

 notes of the two species, and some evidence to justify the sug- 

 gestion that there may be a variation, both in song and tone, 

 between those west of the Missouri River and the intermediates 

 of the eastern part of the State. 



Those west of the Missouri River are all Sturnella neolecia, 

 and doubtless all those east of central Iowa are Sturnella magna. 

 As far as known no true type of the Eastern Meadowlark has 

 been taken in South Dakota. 



The song of this bird is a wonderfully exuberant expres- 

 sion of bird music. It may he heard for half a mile and fairly 

 fills the prairie. There is not room enough for it anywhere else. 

 The singer is sure of his audience and is thrilled and inspired 

 by his surroundings. The songs and calls are exceedingly varied, 

 but the rapturous love song, rendered in full flight, is Nature in 

 her most ecstatic mood, and nowhere is the song finer than in 

 South Dakota. 



The home of the Western Meadowlark is on the prairies 

 or in open meadows. As noted elsewhere in this bulletin, the 



