Watercolor portrait of Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna)

What does the Eastern Meadowlark song sound like?

Sturnella magna
Song Common

Play the real Eastern Meadowlark song, the "spring-of-the-year", and learn what to listen for.

“spring-of-the-year”

What the Eastern Meadowlark song sounds like

A clear, flute-like whistle consisting of 3–5 pure, slurred notes that descend in pitch. Many people hear it as the phrase 'spring-of-the-year' or 'see-you, see-yeeer'. Males have a repertoire of similar songs and sing from exposed perches to defend their territory.

“spring-of-the-year”

How to find the bird singing it

Grasslands, prairies, and open fields

  • Yellow Breast with Black V: Bright yellow underparts with a distinctive black 'V' on the chest.
  • Streaked Back: Upperparts are brown with heavy black streaks, helping it blend into grasses.
  • White Outer Tail: Has white outer tail feathers that flash when the bird flushes from cover in flight.

When you'll hear it

Spring

Returns early to breeding grounds. By early spring, males are already singing frequently from fence posts or hay bales. Nesting begins as soon as grasses are tall enough to hide ground nests (often mid-spring).

Summer

Breeding season in full swing. Females build well-hidden grass nests on the ground and raise chicks. Adults aggressively defend territories. They primarily feed insects to their nestlings during the summer months.

Fall

After breeding, singing subsides. Meadowlarks may form loose flocks or family groups and wander locally to find seeds and insects. Birds from the north begin to migrate to more southerly areas as temperatures drop and fields are harvested.

Winter

Present year-round in the southern portions of its range. In winter, many birds from the northern breeding areas move south. Meadowlarks gather in small flocks in open fields or prairies, feeding on leftover seeds and avoiding snow-covered ground.

Don’t confuse it with

Birds whose song gets mistaken for this one. Play them back to back.

Western Meadowlark

Nearly identical in looks; Western Meadowlark has very similar plumage with a yellow breast and black V. Differences include Western having more yellow extending onto the lower face (yellow malar stripe) and generally slightly paler overall coloration.

Savannah Sparrow

A much smaller bird (sparrow-sized) that could be in the same grassy habitat.

Eastern Meadowlark song FAQ

What does an Eastern Meadowlark song sound like?
A clear, flute-like whistle consisting of 3–5 pure, slurred notes that descend in pitch. Many people hear it as the phrase 'spring-of-the-year' or 'see-you, see-yeeer'. Males have a repertoire of similar songs and sing from exposed perches to defend their territory. Birders write it as "spring-of-the-year".
How do I tell an Eastern Meadowlark from a Western Meadowlark by ear?
Western Meadowlark: Nearly identical in looks; Western Meadowlark has very similar plumage with a yellow breast and black V. Differences include Western having more yellow extending onto the lower face (yellow malar stripe) and generally slightly paler overall coloration.; The surest distinction is the song: Western's song is a more complex, flute-like melody with gurgling notes, whereas Eastern's is a simpler whistled sequence..
When is the best time to hear the Eastern Meadowlark song?
Most active during daylight hours, foraging on the ground in grasslands and singing from exposed perches.

More Eastern Meadowlark sounds

Eastern Meadowlark: the full species pageEvery sound we have, field marks, habitat and similar species.How to Learn Bird Songs by Ear: A Gentle Two-Week MethodLearning bird songs by ear sounds intimidating until you realize you already know a few — that robin in your yard, the chickadee at the feeder. Here is the gentle on-ramp: seven birds to learn first, a memory trick that works even if you cannot carry a tune, and a ten-minute-a-day rhythm that turns spring noise into named neighbors.How to Learn Bird Calls Fast: A 7-Day Spring PlanYou have seven days. You want seven birds. This is the plan: one new song per day, a mnemonic per bird, ten minutes you steal from your coffee break. Sunday-to-Sunday, you walk outside and a name lands in your head before you have time to think about it.The Dawn Chorus: Which Birds Sing First Each Morning (And Why)Every morning, as the first light touches the sky, birds like the American Robin and Northern Cardinal begin their symphony. But why do they choose dawn for their most vigorous singing?