Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) Icteridae
April 2, 2016
Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge
Robert Niese
I could photograph and listen to these birds singing all day! Unfortunately, not everyone in the car felt the same way and I only had a single joyous hour with this little guy. Learn more about the “neglected” Western Meadowlark here. Listen to its lovely song here.
Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) Icteridae
April 2, 2016
Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge, MT
Robert Niese
The Western Meadowlark performs a lovely metallic flute-like song throughout the spring and summer. Its Eastern counterpart, on the other hand, has a much flatter, whistled song. Easter and Western Meadowlarks are so similar in appearance that until quite recently they were considered the same species. Since the Eastern species was discovered and named first, the Western, when it finally gained full species distinction, became known as the “neglected” meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta). This species is one of the 37 (including subspecies) named by John James Audubon throughout his career as one of America’s first ornithologists.
Bullock’s Oriole (Icterus bullockii) Icteridae, female
Palouse Falls State Park, WA
June 8, 2015
Robert Niese
Bullock’s Orioles are the only oriole species found in the Pacific Northwest. I caught this pretty lady mid-stretch. These rectricies (tail feathers) are really worn and she appears to be missing a feather on her right side. Normally, rectricies are molted symmetrically, so perhaps she broke this one feather or lost it in a battle with a rival. Regardless, she’s still quite a lovely bird!
Bullock’s Oriole (Icterus bullockii) Icteridae, male
Palouse Falls State Park, WA
June 8, 2015
Robert Niese
Bullock’s Orioles are the only oriole species found in the Pacific Northwest. They are members of the “blackbird” family which includes a very large fraction of not-black species including the meadowlarks, oropendolas, bobolinks, and, of course, the orioles. Icterid blackbirds are not, however, related to the European Common Blackbird which is actually a robin, which are not related to European Robins which are actually chats, which are not related to Yellow-breasted Chats which are actually New World Warblers in the genus Icteria, which is not to be confused with the genus Icterus, because, as previously stated, orioles are blackbirds which are not robins which are not chats, which are not Yellow-breasted Chats which are New World Warblers, not blackbirds. More reasons to hate common names…
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) Icteridae
Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge, MT
April 24, 2014
Robert Niese
Northwest Naturalist 