Kansas State Bird: Western Meadowlark
Fact-checked • Updated November 25, 2025
Kansas State Bird – Western Meadowlark
Kansas designated the Western Meadowlark as its official state bird in 1937. Residents often see the species across open grasslands. Adults show yellow underparts with a dark chest mark. Song notes rise clearly over prairie fields. Kansas shares this bird with five other states in the northern and western plains.
Why Kansas Chose the Western Meadowlark as State Bird
Kansas made the Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) its official state bird in 1937. Lawmakers supported the choice because the bird lived across the state.
Five other states share the meadowlark with Kansas. Oregon and Wyoming selected it in 1927. Nebraska followed in 1929, Montana in 1931, and North Dakota in 1947.
Flute-like songs carry across open grasslands. You hear them in rural areas during spring and summer. Prairie residents recognized the sound instantly.
Yellow breasts resemble Kansas sunflowers. A bold black V pattern makes identification easy. Meadowlarks perch on fence posts and roadside signs across the state.
Farmers valued them for pest control. Grasshoppers, beetles, and cutworms damage crops. Meadowlarks helped protect Kansas wheat and corn fields by eating these insects.
History of Adoption: How the Meadowlark Became Kansas's Symbol
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Before 1937 — No Official Bird
Kansas had no official state bird through the early 1930s, while neighboring states adopted theirs earlier.
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Early 1930s — Public Support Grows
Audubon Society chapters, garden clubs, and teachers encouraged recognition of the meadowlark. Communities across the state supported the idea.
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Mid-1930s — Legislative Momentum
Lawmakers highlighted the bird’s ties to farms and prairies. Rural and urban representatives found common ground.
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1937 — Official Adoption
Kansas formally recognized the Western Meadowlark as the state bird in 1937. The decision reflected its strong presence in everyday Kansas life.
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After 1937 — Shared Symbol Across the Plains
North Dakota added the bird in 1947, making six states in total. The meadowlark continued to symbolize prairie landscapes across the Great Plains.
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Today
The Western Meadowlark remains a common sight throughout the state and a lasting part of Kansas’s identity.
What the Western Meadowlark Means to Kansas
Prairie Heritage
Meadowlarks rely on open grasslands. Their presence connects modern Kansas to its tallgrass prairie past. Each song evokes the state’s natural history.
Agricultural Help
The birds eat insects that damage wheat and corn. This pest control made them valuable partners to farmers and part of the region’s agricultural rhythm.
Signature Sound
The meadowlark’s flute-like notes define spring mornings. Many residents recognize the song instantly and associate it with wide, open spaces.
Adaptability
The species survived Kansas’s shift from prairie to farmland. It nests in fields, pastures, and hay meadows, reflecting the state’s own resilience.
Physical Characteristics of the Western Meadowlark
Distinctive Markings
Bright yellow breast and throat, crossed by a bold black V. Brown streaked back blends into grassland surroundings. White outer tail feathers flash in flight.
Head and Bill
A yellow face with a dark eyeline and striped crown. A long, pointed bill helps probe soil for insects. Strong legs allow steady walking on the ground.
Size
A stocky bird about the size of a robin, measuring 6–10 inches long and weighing 3–4 ounces. Males and females look similar.
Plumage Through Seasons
Fresh fall feathers appear slightly buffier. Yellow coloring stays bright year-round, though worn feathers look duller in late summer.
Flight Pattern
Short, rounded wings create quick fluttering wingbeats. The bird usually flies low over fields, with white tail feathers flashing as it moves.
Behavior & Habits of the Western Meadowlark
Song
Males sing from fence posts, poles, and shrubs. Their song features rich, flute-like phrases that can travel up to half a mile. Each male sings several variations.
Territorial Behavior
Males defend territories of several acres and may have multiple mates. Displays include wing-fluttering and loud singing during breeding season.
Feeding
Meadowlarks walk through grasslands searching for insects. They open their bills underground to extract prey. Summer food includes grasshoppers, beetles, and crickets; winter food includes seeds and grain.
Avoiding Predators
Camouflage keeps them hidden among tall grasses. When threatened, they sit motionless, then flush suddenly to startle predators.
Nesting
Females build domed nests on the ground with a side entrance. They lay 3–7 eggs and incubate for about two weeks. Both parents feed the chicks.
Seasonal Movement
Most meadowlarks migrate short distances south for winter. Some stay in southern Kansas, while others return to nesting territories in early spring.
Habitat & Conservation
Where They Live
Native prairies, hayfields, pastures, wheat fields, and tall roadside grasses all support meadowlark populations. The Flint Hills provide some of the best habitat.
Habitat Needs
They require open grasslands with scattered perches and grass tall enough to hide nests. A mix of cropland and grassland suits them well.
Conservation Status
Western Meadowlarks rank as Least Concern, but populations declined about 50% since 1970 due to grassland loss.
Threats
Loss of prairie, early mowing in hayfields, pesticides, woody plant invasion, and expanding development all reduce habitat.
Conservation Efforts
Grassland management programs, delayed haying, Conservation Reserve Program land, and prescribed burns help maintain suitable habitat.
How to Help
- Support prairie preservation efforts
- Delay hay mowing until mid-summer
- Maintain grassland areas on private property
- Reduce pesticide use
- Leave fence posts for singing perches
- Report sightings to bird monitoring programs
- Control invasive trees in grasslands
- Volunteer for prairie restoration projects
Interesting Facts About the Western Meadowlark
Fact 1 of 10
Six states selected the Western Meadowlark as their state bird
Western Meadowlark Songs & Calls
Hear the clear whistles and sharp calls of the Western Meadowlark. These field recordings capture their distinctive voice in natural habitat.
Audio licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Also the State Bird of:
Sources & References
This article has been researched using authoritative sources to ensure accuracy and reliability. All information has been fact-checked and verified against official government records and scientific databases.
Scientific information on Western Meadowlark identification, behavior, and ecology. • Accessed: November 30, 2025
Species profile with photos, range maps, and conservation status. • Accessed: November 30, 2025
Overview of taxonomy, distribution, and general species information. • Accessed: November 30, 2025
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