Long-tailed meadowlark  (Sturnella loyca)

Classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List (1).

In addition to having the longest tail, the aptly named long-tailed meadowlark is by far the largest of the seven species of New World blackbird in the genus Sturnella (2). The male has a brilliant red breast and is mostly blackish-brown above, while the female is considerably paler and more streaked, and has a much fainter pinkish tinge to the breast (2) (3) (4). Furthermore, although both sexes have a prominent stripe above the eye, the female’s is all white, while the male’s is red in front of the eye and white behind (2).

The long-tailed meadowlark occurs in Argentina, Chile, the Falklands Islands, and the South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (2) (5).

Found in arid-grassy areas, especially with scattered scrub, and in pastures and cultivated meadows (2).

The long-tailed meadowlark forages on the ground for a variety insects and seeds (3). It is a conspicuous species that usually forms small flocks, except when breeding, and commonly uses trees, shrubs, poles and fences as perches (2). These perches, which are thought to be an essential component of this species’ habitat, are used for calling and singing (2) (3). As is typical of species in this noisy family (6), the long-tailed meadow lark’s song is loud and wheezy (2). Nests of the long-tailed meadowlark are known to be parasitized by the shiny cowbird, which lay their own eggs in the meadowlark’s nests (7) (8). This sometimes results in meadowlark adults unwittingly incubating the eggs of the shiny cowbird, and rearing its young (8).

The long-tailed meadowlark has a large distribution and is not thought to be threatened overall (5).

There are currently no conservation measures in place for the long-tailed meadowlark.

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

For information on the conservation of birds across the Americas see:

• American Bird Conservancy:
  www.abcbirds.org

For more information on this and other bird species please see:

• BirdLife International:
  http://www.birdlife.org