Eastern Meadowlark vs Savannah Sparrow

Eastern Meadowlark

Sturnella magna

How to recognise an eastern meadowlark?

General appearance

The eastern meadowlark is a medium-sized songbird, characterized by its bright yellow underparts and a distinctive black 'V' necklace on its chest. The upperparts are brown with intricate streaks, providing camouflage in grassy habitats. The face features a sharp contrast with a white or pale yellow stripe above the eye and a dark crown. They possess a long, pointed bill.

Male vs female

Males and females have similar plumage, making them difficult to distinguish by appearance alone in the field. However, males are typically slightly larger and possess more vibrant colors. During the breeding season, males' songs are more pronounced, assisting in identification.

Juvenile

Juvenile eastern meadowlarks resemble adults but have duller and more muted colors. The black 'V' on the chest is less defined, and the overall plumage shows more spotting rather than streaking. Juveniles lack the fully-developed song of adults, with more subdued calls.

Size

7.5 - 10.2 in/2.0 - 5.3 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The eastern meadowlark prefers natural grasslands, meadows, and pastures. It also resides in hayfields and other crop fields. It prefers taller, lusher grass in the Midwest.

Additional range

In winter, the meadowlark inhabits both natural and cultivated fields. Despite its usual preference for lush grass, in the Southwest it adapts to arid desert grasslands.

Range Map

What do eastern meadowlarks like to eat?

Natural diet

The eastern meadowlark primarily consumes a variety of insects and seeds. During summer, its diet is dominated by insects, including grasshoppers, crickets, beetles and their larvae, caterpillars, ants, true bugs, and spiders. These insects provide essential nutrients during the breeding season. In fall and winter, the bird's diet shifts to include more seeds and waste grain, which make up over a quarter of its annual diet.

Bird feeders

Eastern meadowlarks are not commonly known to visit bird feeders. Their natural diet in the wild does not typically include the seeds and grains frequently found in feeders designed for other bird species. They prefer to forage on the ground for their natural food sources.

What does an eastern meadowlark sound like?

The Eastern Meadowlark's vocalizations encompass a blend of distinctive sounds. It produces a clear, mellow whistle that sounds like "see-you, see-yeeeer." In addition to this, it emits a loud rattling alarm note. The bird's call patterns are falling and flat and exemplified in a series of buzz, chirp/chip, flute, trill, and whistle sounds. These various calls make their song both distinctive and diverse in tone and pattern.

Call

Audio by Paul Marvin

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Song

Audio by Paul Marvin

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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Savannah Sparrow

Passerculus sandwichensis

How to recognise a Savannah sparrow?

General appearance

The savannah sparrow is a small, streaked songbird with a short tail and a distinguishing yellow spot between the eye and beak. Its back and wings are brown with heavy streaking, while the underparts are white with dark streaks. The bill is typically short and conical.

Male vs female

Males and females are similar in appearance, but males often exhibit slightly brighter and more contrasting plumage during the breeding season. Both sexes feature a similar patterning and coloration throughout the year.

Juvenile

Juvenile savannah sparrows resemble adults but have a more subdued coloration and streaking. The yellow spot may be less pronounced in juveniles. As they mature, their plumage becomes more defined, resembling adult birds.

Size

4.3 - 5.9 in/0.5 - 1.0 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The Savannah Sparrow is primarily found in open fields, meadows, pastures and the edges of marshes. In the summertime, it inhabits tundra, while in winter, shores and weedy vacant lots form its habitat.

Additional range

Some regional variants exhibit unique habitats; the Northeastern 'Ipswich' resides on grassy coastal dunes, while the Southwestern 'Belding's' and 'Large-billed' races dwell in salt marshes.

Range Map

What do savannah sparrows like to eat?

Natural diet

The Savannah Sparrow primarily feeds on insects and seeds. It consumes a variety of insects, such as beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, and flies, particularly in the summer months. It also eats spiders. Coastal populations of Savannah Sparrows are known to eat tiny crustaceans and mollusks. Seeds, especially those from grasses and weeds, form a significant part of their diet, alongside some berries. The young Savannah Sparrows are predominantly fed insects to support their growth.

Bird feeders

Savannah Sparrows are less commonly seen at bird feeders compared to other sparrows. However, they may occasionally visit feeders to eat seeds, especially during migration or when natural food sources are scarce. Providing seeds that mimic their natural choices, such as those from grasses and weeds, could potentially attract them.

What does a Savannah sparrow sound like?

The Savannah Sparrow vocalizes a high-pitched, buzzy "tsip-tsip-tsip-se-e-e-srr" sound. Its calls showcase various patterns but predominantly feature a falling call type. Its vocal repertoire comprises buzzes, chirps or chips, and 'hi' sounds, often ending with a trill. These distinct sounds make the Savannah Sparrow's song unique and identifiable.

Call

Audio by Paul Marvin

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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Eastern Meadowlark

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Savannah Sparrow

Eastern Meadowlark

Sturnella magna

General appearance

The eastern meadowlark is a medium-sized songbird, characterized by its bright yellow underparts and a distinctive black 'V' necklace on its chest. The upperparts are brown with intricate streaks, providing camouflage in grassy habitats. The face features a sharp contrast with a white or pale yellow stripe above the eye and a dark crown. They possess a long, pointed bill.

Male vs female

Males and females have similar plumage, making them difficult to distinguish by appearance alone in the field. However, males are typically slightly larger and possess more vibrant colors. During the breeding season, males' songs are more pronounced, assisting in identification.

Juvenile

Juvenile eastern meadowlarks resemble adults but have duller and more muted colors. The black 'V' on the chest is less defined, and the overall plumage shows more spotting rather than streaking. Juveniles lack the fully-developed song of adults, with more subdued calls.

Size

7.5 - 10.2 in/2.0 - 5.3 oz

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Savannah Sparrow

Passerculus sandwichensis

General appearance

The savannah sparrow is a small, streaked songbird with a short tail and a distinguishing yellow spot between the eye and beak. Its back and wings are brown with heavy streaking, while the underparts are white with dark streaks. The bill is typically short and conical.

Male vs female

Males and females are similar in appearance, but males often exhibit slightly brighter and more contrasting plumage during the breeding season. Both sexes feature a similar patterning and coloration throughout the year.

Juvenile

Juvenile savannah sparrows resemble adults but have a more subdued coloration and streaking. The yellow spot may be less pronounced in juveniles. As they mature, their plumage becomes more defined, resembling adult birds.

Size

4.3 - 5.9 in/0.5 - 1.0 oz

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How to tell the Eastern Meadowlark from the Savannah Sparrow

Visual differences

The Eastern Meadowlark is larger, weighing 2.0-5.3 oz and measuring 7.5-10.2 inches, with bright yellow underparts and a distinctive black 'V' necklace. It has a long, pointed bill. The Savannah Sparrow is smaller, weighing 0.5-1.0 oz and measuring 4.3-5.9 inches, with heavily streaked brown upperparts and white underparts with dark streaks. It features a short, conical bill and a yellow spot between the eye and beak. The Eastern Meadowlark has a striking yellow and black pattern, while Savannah Sparrow has more subdued brown streaking.

Key differences and behavior

The Eastern Meadowlark and Savannah Sparrow differ notably in behavior and habitat. While Eastern Meadowlarks (7.5-10.2 in, 2-5.3 oz) are often found in natural grasslands and meadows, Savannah Sparrows (4.3-5.9 in, 0.5-1 oz) inhabit open fields and marsh edges. Both species exhibit ground nesting, but Eastern Meadowlarks have elaborate courtship displays and typically engage in polygyny, unlike Savannah Sparrows, which exhibit territorial behavior with more straightforward mating displays. Diets are similar, focused on insects and seeds; however, Savannah Sparrows near coasts also consume crustaceans and mollusks. Meadowlarks are less likely to visit bird feeders, preferring to forage, whereas Savannah Sparrows might occasionally visit feeders during scarcity. Eastern Meadowlark males sing varied songs from perches, engaging multiple mates, while Savannah Sparrows are noted for their loud songs that help them be detected despite their inconspicuousness.