Montana State Bird: Western Meadowlark

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Fact-checked • Updated January 26, 2025

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State Bird of Montana

Montana State Bird – Western Meadowlark

Montana adopted the Western Meadowlark in 1931. Schoolchildren supported the choice in a statewide vote. Birds perch on fence posts across open prairie country. Yellow plumage flashes in bright light. Song notes carry across fields in early spring before lawmakers acted.

Bright yellow breast with black V Shared by 7 States Since 1931
Western Meadowlark

Why Montana Chose This Bird

Montana schoolchildren picked the state bird in 1930. Teachers organized a statewide vote. Students chose the Western Meadowlark by a wide margin. Ranch and farm families knew the species well.

Legislators honored the results. Montana's legislature passed a bill in 1931. Governor John E. Erickson signed it into law. Montana became the third state to select this species.

Meadowlarks hunt insects. Grasshoppers and beetles make up summer diet across ranch country. Less crop damage results. Farmers valued this natural pest control benefit.

Spring mornings brought the distinctive song. Walk outside anywhere in Montana - you heard it. Valleys and prairies hosted meadowlarks where people lived and worked.

Legislative History

  1. The 1930 School Vote

    Montana teachers organized the statewide bird poll. Students from rural schools to city classrooms cast ballots. The Western Meadowlark received more votes than any other species. Kids wrote essays explaining their choices. Why did children prefer the meadowlark? Most saw and heard it regularly. Urban students knew it from parks and vacant lots. Rural kids watched it hunt insects near barns and fields. Familiarity counted.

  2. Official Adoption in 1931

    The Twenty-Second Legislative Assembly took up the question. Representatives introduced a bill designating the Western Meadowlark as Montana's state bird. Both houses passed it without opposition. The governor's signature made it official on March 14, 1931. Montana followed Kansas and Nebraska in picking this bird. Oregon adopted it in 1927, making it the first state to choose the Western Meadowlark. Wyoming selected it the same year. North Dakota wouldn't make its choice until 1947.

What This Bird Represents

Connection to the Land

The meadowlark lives in Montana's signature landscape. Vast grasslands define the eastern two-thirds of the state. This bird thrives in exactly that habitat. Seeing one means you're in authentic Montana country. Lewis and Clark wrote about hearing these birds. Their expedition journals from 1805 describe the song. Meriwether Lewis noted the clear, musical quality. The species got its scientific name neglecta because early ornithologists confused it with the Eastern Meadowlark.

Agricultural Heritage

Montana's economy depended on farming and ranching. The meadowlark helped both industries. Watch one hunt through a wheat field. It walks methodically, jabbing its bill into the ground, pulling out beetle larvae and grasshoppers. Pest control mattered more than beauty. Pretty birds don't pay the bills. Useful birds do. Legislators understood this when they made their choice. Getting free help mattered.

Physical Characteristics

Size and Shape

Western Meadowlarks measure 6.5 to 10 inches long. They weigh between 3 and 4 ounces. The wingspan reaches 16 inches. These birds look stocky with short tails and long, pointed bills. Males and females appear nearly identical. Both show the same bright yellow breast and black V-shaped bib. Both have brown backs heavily streaked with buff and black. You can't tell them apart by looking.

Distinctive Markings

That yellow breast catches your eye first. The color runs from throat to belly. A bold black V crosses the chest. White outer tail feathers flash when the bird flies. The streaked brown back provides camouflage. When meadowlarks hunker down in grass, they disappear. Only movement gives them away. This pattern helps them hide from hawks and coyotes.

Seasonal Changes

Winter plumage looks duller. The yellow fades to pale buff. The black V becomes less distinct. Feather edges wear down during breeding season. Fresh fall feathers restore the bright colors. Juveniles start brown and streaky. Yellow appears gradually as they mature. First-year birds lack the sharp contrast of adults. By their second spring, they develop full adult plumage.

Behavior and Song

The Famous Song

The song sounds like a flute. Rich, clear notes cascade down in a melodious phrase. Each male has his own variation. Some songs last two seconds. Others stretch to four seconds. Males sing from fence posts and utility poles. Dawn brings the most singing. You'll hear them throughout the morning. Singing continues into summer but drops off after July. What's the point of singing when chicks have already hatched?

Foraging Behavior

Meadowlarks walk through grass hunting insects. They probe the ground with their bills. Watch one flip over a cow patty to grab beetles underneath. Grasshoppers make up half their summer diet. Winter diet shifts to seeds and grain. Birds visit agricultural fields to glean spilled wheat and corn. Some stay through Montana winters. Others migrate to southern states. The decision depends on food availability and snow depth.

Territorial Defense

Males defend territories of 3 to 15 acres. Chase behavior starts in early spring. One male will pursue another across the grassland. Physical fights happen rarely. Song and display usually settle disputes. Females choose nest sites within male territories. They build the nest alone. Males don't help with construction. Their job involves defending borders and singing.

Habitat and Range

Preferred Habitat

Native prairie provides ideal conditions. Meadowlarks need open grassland with scattered shrubs. Ground nests require good cover. Too much grass creates problems. Too little grass offers no protection. Agricultural land works well too. Hayfields, pastures, and lightly grazed rangeland all support meadowlarks. Birds avoid heavily cultivated row crops. Constant tilling destroys nests. Alfalfa fields work better because cutting happens less frequently.

Montana Distribution

You'll find meadowlarks across eastern Montana. The species thrives in the Great Plains region. Western Montana has fewer birds. Mountainous terrain doesn't suit them. Valley bottoms and foothills host small populations. Elevation matters. Most nest below 6,000 feet. A few pairs venture higher into mountain parks. Breeding density peaks in native grasslands. Prime habitat might hold 50 pairs per square mile.

Migration Patterns

Some Montana meadowlarks stay year-round. Others head south for winter. The decision seems individual. Mild winters keep more birds around. Harsh conditions push them toward southern states. Spring arrival happens in March. Males show up first to claim territories. Females arrive two weeks later. Fall departure begins in October. By November, most have left or settled into winter patterns.

Interesting Facts

Fact 1 of 9

Lewis and Clark heard Western Meadowlarks along the Missouri River in June 1805, but they didn't realize this was a different species from the Eastern Meadowlark. The Western species wasn't formally described until 1844.

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:

Kansas Nebraska North Dakota Oregon Wyoming

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.

1
Montana Code Annotated - State Bird Statute
https://leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/title_0010/chapter_0010/part_0050/section_0040/0010-0010-0050-0040.html

Official Montana state law designating the Western Meadowlark as state bird • Accessed: November 30, 2025

2
Montana Field Guide - Western Meadowlark
https://fieldguide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=ABPBXB2030

Montana Natural Heritage Program species information and conservation status • Accessed: November 30, 2025

3
Cornell Lab of Ornithology - All About Birds
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Meadowlark

Comprehensive identification, life history, and behavioral information • Accessed: November 30, 2025

4
National Audubon Society - Western Meadowlark
https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/western-meadowlark

Detailed field guide including habitat, nesting behavior, and conservation • Accessed: November 30, 2025

5
Flathead Audubon Society - Western Meadowlark Article
https://flatheadaudubon.org/bird-of-the-month/western-meadowlark/

Montana-specific information on meadowlark behavior and Lewis and Clark history • Accessed: November 30, 2025

Accuracy Commitment: We strive to maintain accurate and up-to-date information. If you notice any errors or outdated information, please contact us.

People Also Ask

When did Montana adopt the Western Meadowlark as state bird?
Montana designated the Western Meadowlark as official state bird on March 14, 1931. The choice came after a statewide vote organized among schoolchildren in 1930. Teachers asked students to pick their favorite bird. The meadowlark won by a wide margin. Governor John E. Erickson signed the legislation into law.
How many U.S. states share the Western Meadowlark as their official bird?
Seven U.S. states claim the Western Meadowlark as their official bird: Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, and Wyoming. Oregon was the first to adopt it in 1927. Wyoming followed the same year. Montana became the third state in 1931. Kansas and Nebraska also chose it early. North Dakota waited until 1947.
What does the Western Meadowlark eat in Montana?
Spring and summer diet consists mainly of insects. Grasshoppers, beetles, caterpillars, crickets, and spiders. They hunt by walking through grass and probing the ground with their bills. Winter diet shifts to seeds and grain. Birds visit agricultural fields to glean spilled wheat and corn. Some eat weed seeds too. The seasonal diet change helps them survive harsh Montana winters.
Where can I see Western Meadowlarks in Montana?
Western Meadowlarks live throughout Montana's prairies and grasslands, especially in the eastern two-thirds of the state. Look for them in hayfields, pastures, and native prairie. Along roadsides too. You'll often spot them perched on fence posts, utility wires, or low shrubs. They avoid heavily forested areas and high mountain terrain. Most nest below 6,000 feet elevation.
How can you tell a Western Meadowlark from an Eastern Meadowlark?
The most reliable difference is song. Western Meadowlarks have a rich, flute-like melody. Eastern Meadowlarks sound more like clear whistles. Plumage looks very similar on both species. Western birds show slightly more yellow on the throat. Check the range too. Western Meadowlarks dominate in Montana. Eastern Meadowlarks rarely wander this far west.
Do Western Meadowlarks migrate from Montana?
Some do, some don't. Many Montana meadowlarks migrate south for winter. Others stay if conditions remain mild and food stays available. Spring migrants return in March. Males arrive first to claim territories. Females show up two weeks later. Fall departure begins in October. By November, most birds have either migrated or settled into winter patterns.
Why did Montana schoolchildren choose this bird in 1930?
Children voted for the Western Meadowlark because they knew it well. The bird lived on farms and ranches throughout the state. Students could hear its song regularly. They watched it hunt insects in fields near their homes. Kids also appreciated that meadowlarks helped control crop pests. The bird's familiar presence in daily life made it an easy choice.
Are Montana's meadowlark populations stable now?
Western Meadowlark populations face challenges from habitat loss. Native prairie conversion to agriculture reduces available nesting sites. However, birds adapt well to hayfields and pastures. Current populations appear relatively stable in Montana. The species maintains Least Concern conservation status. Continued grassland conservation helps sustain meadowlark numbers across the state.
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