More photos from our Bison Range field trip include Western Meadowlarks (Sturnella neglecta) . Both my sister, Linda, and I took photos using my Canon. Linda took the close-ups you will see here.

The specie is a favorite around here. In fact, it has the honor of being the state bird of Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon and Wyoming. Sheez...

They are a member of the blackbird family. Males often use fence posts as perches while singing - actually staking out their breeding territory which can be up to 15 acres. The males have more than one mate, up to three females, nesting in their territory.

Meadowlarks are ground nesters and ground feeders eating both insects/invertebrates and some seeds.

While foraging, if they feel threatened they freeze close to the ground "disappearing" (yellow chest down and their brown and white back feathers blending) in the vegetation while casting a wary eye towards the danger.

To see all the photos in a new window, click Merle's SmugMug Western Meadowlark - take 2