State birds. A comparison of the Northern Mockingbird and the Western Meadowlark. By Shaden Jensen

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1 State birds A comparison of the Northern Mockingbird and the Western Meadowlark By Shaden Jensen

2 Western Meadowlark! Similar to the Eastern Meadowlark in appearance, this bird can be recognized by its song. The two species can easily tell each other apart. The two species seem to see each other as potential rivals and actively defend their territories from each other.

3 Northern Mockingbird! This bird s famous song is heard all day during the nesting season. Very common in towns and cities, the mockingbird often seeks insects on open lawns. Mockingbirds are bold defenders of their nests and will attack cats or even humans that venture to close.

4 Meadowlark Conservation status! Still widespread and common, but surveys indicate ongoing population declines in recent decades.

5 Mockingbird conservation status! This species was often captured for sale as a pet from the late 1700s to the early 1900s, and probably as a result it became scarce along much of the northern edge of its range. After the cage bird trade was stopped, the Mockingbird again became common in many areas. During recent decades it has expanded its range north, especially in the northeast.

6 Meadowlark habitat! Grasslands, cultivated fields and pastures, meadows, prairies. Breeds mostly in natural grasslands, abandoned weedy fields, rangeland, also sometimes on cultivated land. In the Midwest, seems to prefer shorter grass and drier fields than the sites chosen by Eastern Meadowlark. In winter, often in stubble fields and other farmland.

7 Mockingbird habitat! Towns, farms, roadsides, thickets, brushy areas. Favors areas with dense low shrubs and open ground, either short grass or open soil, often common around suburban hedges and lawns. Also in many kinds of second growth, woodland edges, farmland. In west, often very numerous in desert thickets or stream sides in canyons.

8 Meadowlark feeding behavior! Forages by walking on the ground, taking insects and seeds from the ground and from low plants. Often probes in the soil with its bill. In winter, usually forages in flocks.

9 Mockingbird feeding behaviors! Captures insects mostly while walking and running on ground. Also watches from low perch and flies down to capture items on ground below. Perches in shrubs and trees to eat berries.

10 Meadowlark diet! Mostly insects and seeds. Majority of diet consists of insects, especially in summer, when it eats many beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, caterpillars, ants, true bugs, and others; also spiders, snails, sowbugs. Seeds and waste grain make up about one-third of annual diet, and are eaten especially in fall and winter.

11 Mockingbird diet! Mostly insects and berries. Annual diet is about half insects and other arthropods, half berries and fruits. Feeds heavily on insects in late spring and summer, especially beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, ants, wasps, and many others. Also eats spiders, snails,, earthworms, and rarely crayfish and small lizards. Fall and winter diet leans heavily to berries and wild fruits, sometimes a few cultivated fruits.

12 Meadowlark eggs! 3-7, usually about 5. White, heavily spotted with brown and purple, especially at larger end. Incubation is by female, about days

13 Mockingbird eggs! 3-4, sometimes 2-6. Variably greenish to bluish gray, with blotches of brown usually concentrated at larger end. Incubation is by female, days.

14 Meadowlark young! Both parents feed nestlings (but female does more). Young leave the nest after about 12 days, before they are able to fly, and are tended by parents for at least another 2 weeks. 2 broods per year.

15 Meadowlark young! Both parents feed the nestlings. Young leave the nest about 12 days after hatching, not able to fly well for about another week. 2-3 broods per year.

16 Meadowlark nesting Placed on the ground, in areas with dense cover of grass, in a small hollow or depression in ground. Nest (built by female) is a domed structure with the entrance on the side, made of grass stems interwoven with the surrounding growth. Usually has narrow trails or "runways" leading to nest through the grass.

17 Mockingbird nest! Placed in a dense shrub or tree, usually 3-10' above the ground, sometimes lower or higher (rarely up to 60'). Nest has bulky foundation of twigs supporting open cup of weeds, grass, leaves, lined with fine material such as rootlets, moss, animal hair, plant down. Male builds most of foundation, female adds most of lining.

EUROPEAN STARLING HOUSE FINCH

EUROPEAN STARLING HOUSE FINCH EUROPEAN STARLING Scientific Name: Sturnus vulgaris Size: 7.5-8.5 " (19-21 cm) Shape: Short tail; plump body Color: Blackbird with shiny feathers; yellow bill in springtime. Habitat: Cities, parks, farms,