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.

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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)

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Etymology

Origin of meadowlark

First recorded in 1605–15; meadow + lark ¹

Example Sentences

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

Other new breeding species include the eastern meadowlark, known for its sharp call; the blue grosbeak, a striking blue relative of the cardinal; and the bobolink, a bumblebee-colored blackbird that migrates 12,500 miles annually.

From New York Times • Jun. 9, 2016

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 OK, but I’m only allowing one.

From Slate • May 17, 2013

When he sculpted it to a point, such a brush would let him paint the pinfeathers of a young meadowlark or the petals of a wood lily.

From "Beyond the Bright Sea" by Lauren Wolk