Meadowlark

Meadowlarks are birds belonging to the genus Sturnella in the New World family Icteridae. Sturnella meadowlarks and blackbirds small group of gregarious and conspicuous grassland-inhabiting blackbirds.

This genus includes seven species of largely insectivorous grassland birds. In all species the male at least has a black or brown back and extensively red or yellow underparts.

Taxonomy
Together with the Yellow-headed Blackbird and Bobolink, Sturnella make up the Sturnellinae subfamily.

Members of Sturnella can be grouped into three main groups:


 * "Group A": underparts yellow with black crescent; sexes alike.
 * "Group B": underparts red; females duller, streakier below.
 * "Group C": like group B, but blacker and bill shorter.

Species list
"Group A":
 * Eastern Meadowlark, Sturnella magna
 * Western Meadowlark, Sturnella neglecta
 * Lilian's Meadowlark, Sturnella lilianae

"Group B":
 * Long-tailed Meadowlark, Sturnella loyca
 * Peruvian Meadowlark, Sturnella bellicosa
 * Pampas Meadowlark, Sturnella defillippi

"Group C":
 * Red-breasted Blackbird, Sturnella militaris
 * White-browed Blackbird, Sturnella superciliaris