Oregon State Bird
Western Meadowlark

• Official Oregon State Bird: Western Meadowlark
• Family: Icteridae, Blackbirds
• Scientific Name: Sturnella neglecta
• Length: 9.5" (24 cm)
• Diet: Insects, few spiders, sowbugs, snails; grass and forb seeds.
• Voice: Song a rich, low, descending warble sleep loo lidi lidijuvil; begins with well-spaced, clear, short whistles and ends with rapid gurgle. Common call a low, bell-like pluk; blackbird-like but more musical; also a slow, dull rattle vididididididi. Flight call slightly lower than Eastern.
• Habitat: Grasslands, cultivated fields and pastures, meadows, prairies.
• Displays: Courtship: male spreads and drags tail, nape feathers erect, bill pointed sown, wings partly open, while softly singing; song-flight on rapidly vibrating wings, hovers slightly above vegetation.
• Number of broods: 2
• Nest: In natural or scraped depression; of coarse grass, lined with finer grass, hair. Domed canopy of grass, bark, forbs interwoven with surrounding vegetation; opening on one side.
• Eggs: Averages 3-7 white eggs, marked with browns, purples. 1.1" (28 mm).
• Incubation period: 13-15 days
• Fledge: 12 days after hatching
• Longevity Record: 6 Years and 6 months (according to USGS Bird Banding Lab)

The Western Meadowlark was chosen as the Oregon State Bird in 1927 by Oregon's school children in a poll sponsored by the Oregon Audubon Society. The Western Meadowlark is known for its distinctive and beautiful song.

Oregon Birds

The Western Meadowlark is also the State Bird of five other "Western" states besides Oregon: Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wyoming.

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