April Nature Almanac: Flutist of the Prairie
By Scott Severs, Ruth Carol Cushman, and Steve Jones
April 2022
The West is blessed with a wealth of natural treasures: the high snow-capped Rockies contrasting with the golden prairies, clear starry skies, and an abundance of marvelous wildlife. The region is also the home of one of the best songsters in the world, yet we often take this prairie crooner for granted. Of course, we’re referring to the Western Meadowlark, the master singer of any worthy pasture, open-space parcel, or grassland along the Front Range.
Western Meadowlark. Photo by Scott Severs.
The Western Meadowlark was so overlooked by early ornithologists that John James Audubon gave it its scientific name of Sturnella neglecta, which means "neglected little starling." But the meadowlark is not a starling, and it really is larger than the starlings it superficially resembles. The marvelous songs of the males have made the bird so popular it is the state bird in six states! Only one fewer than the Northern Cardinal.
Meadowlarks have been singing on their nesting grounds in Colorado since mid-March. Ruth Carol heard the first one on March 3! Some males get an early jump on their rivals by remaining in the area in small wintering flocks. Others have returned from Texas and New Mexico, where flocks can number in the hundreds.
Abundance map of Western Meadowlarks. See the original map and a live migration animation on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website.
As the days grow warmer and longer, increasing numbers return and by mid-April have spread out across the landscape, staking claim to territories with their incredible flutelike songs. Fenceposts and the tops of yucca plants provide the perfect podiums from which to yodel back at the other tenors across the fields.
Western Meadowlark mid-song. To see a video and hear the song, visit All About Birds’ page on Western Meadowlarks. Photo by Scott Severs.
Meadowlarks remind us of funny little quail—their bodies are shaped somewhat like bobwhites, and their backs are perfectly camouflaged with a somewhat grizzled pattern of tans, browns, and white; perfect for hiding in the grass from a hunting Prairie Falcon. A meadowlark's front shows a bright yellow breast with an emblematic black V. Their showy colors allow male meadowlarks to challenge rivals from the air with superhero-like arrogance, as each tries to court females. A male will also use his jump-flight display to attract females--he'll stand on the ground with his bill pointed skyward, his chest fluffed, and his wings aquiver. Then he'll leap skyward, showing off his best stuff. If he's successful, a couple of females will nest in his 10-acre territory.
Nesting on the ground can be precarious, and female meadowlarks work to conceal their eggs by building a nest of woven grasses with a domed top that is intertwined with grass stems. A small entrance on the side leads to a cup, where the female lays five to seven pinkish-white eggs speckled with brown. It takes about two weeks for the eggs to hatch and another week and a half for the young to leave the nest. The male helps feed the young. Females often raise two complete broods per season.
According to the Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas, Western Meadowlarks are particularly vulnerable to disturbance from recreational trails and from dogs and cats from adjacent neighborhoods. If you're watching meadowlarks this summer, make sure to remain on the trail while observing them. Please keep your dogs on leashes, as female meadowlarks may abandon their nests if they are continually flushed. Pay particular attention to the males and see if you can determine the boundaries of their territories. They'll often define the boundaries by singing from several posts throughout the grassland. A spotting scope is useful to observe these birds and will really bring out their marvelous patterns and beautiful lemon-yellow colors. Soon, you will learn more than expected about these master flute players of the prairie.
Other April Nature Events
The season’s first insects begin to emerge, including tiger beetles, dragonflies, and butterflies.
Watch for emerging wildflowers such as pasqueflower, sand lily, and Nuttall’s violet.
Bald Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks, and Great Horned Owls are bringing food to chicks in their nests.
Prairie (Swainson’s) Hawks arrive from the pampas of Argentina, a 6,000 mile trip.
Songbird migration is increasing daily, with sparrows such as Clay-colored, Chipping, and White-crowned Sparrows leading the way.