meadowlark

American  

[med-oh-lahrk] / ˈmɛd oʊˌlɑrk /

noun

1. any of several American songbirds of the genus Sturnella, of the family Icteridae, especially S. magna eastern meadowlark and S. neglecta western meadowlark, having a brownish and black back and wings and a yellow breast, noted for their clear, tuneful song.

---

meadowlark British  

/ ˈmɛdəʊˌlɑːk /

noun

1. either of two North American yellow-breasted songbirds, Sturnella magna ( eastern meadowlark ) or S. neglecta ( western meadowlark ): family Icteridae (American orioles)

---

Etymology

Origin of meadowlark

First recorded in 1605–15; meadow + lark ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

meadowlark

Marilyn Meador, a retired nurse in Wichita Falls, Texas, noted that a teenager in Florida had suggested that a bird she had photographed was a Western meadowlark, because of the tail-feather pattern.

From New York Times ● Dec. 9, 2022

The team wraps up the north at 9:36 A.M. with 124 species according to Zygmont, the keeper of the list, including the hard-won meadowlark, grouse and kinglet.

From Scientific American ● Sep. 15, 2021

For Janssen, it was seeing a meadowlark flush in front of him as he rode his bike.

From Washington Times ● May 2, 2015

Official state bird: western meadowlark Was western meadowlark the official state bird of the entire Louisiana Purchase and they just kept if after becoming states?

From Slate ● May 17, 2013

Thin as a twig, bright as a meadowlark.

From "Wishtree" by Katherine Applegate