Western Meadowlark Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Song
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
North Dakota, June 02, 2013Recorded by Wil Hershberger / Macaulay Library
Song
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
Saskatchewan, May 05, 2020Recorded by John Patterson / Macaulay Library
Flight song
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
South Dakota, May 10, 2012Recorded by Bob McGuire / Macaulay Library
Calls
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
Colorado, June 24, 2018Recorded by Chris Wood / Macaulay Library
Calls
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
California, March 23, 2012Recorded by Hope Batcheller / Macaulay Library
Calls
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
Utah, May 20, 2013Recorded by Bob McGuire / Macaulay Library
Calls
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
California, June 08, 1989Recorded by Randolph Little / Macaulay Library
Calls
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
Colorado, January 11, 2013Recorded by Nathan Pieplow

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Songs

Male Western Meadowlarks have a complex, two-phrase “primary” song that begins with 1–6 pure whistles and descends to a series of 1–5 gurgling warbles. Males develop a repertoire of up to a dozen songs, and may switch the songs they sing in response to an intruder. When chasing competing males or responsive females, male Western Meadowlarks give a hurried, excited “flight song” of short-spaced whistles and warbles. Although Western Meadowlarks seldom sing more than 10–12 songs, their eastern counterparts exhibit a much larger repertoire of 50–100 song variations.

Calls

The Western Meadowlark’s most common call is a low, bell-like pluk or chupp which they use when disturbed and during courtship and territorial displays. Female Western Meadowlarks also give a soft rattle during courtship and egg laying, as well as a low intensity tee-tee-tee when building the nest and laying eggs. For their first few weeks after leaving the nest, young birds give a simple, high-pitched location call, which is replaced by a weet note once the birds are independent. Adults use the weet note when migrating.