What does the Western Meadowlark song sound like?

Sturnella neglecta

Song common

Play the real Western Meadowlark song, the "sweet-sweet, goo-la-dee, goo-la-dee-loo", and learn what to listen for.

“sweet-sweet, goo-la-dee, goo-la-dee-loo”

What the Western Meadowlark song sounds like

A rich, gurgling series of mellow flute-like notes that accelerate then trail off; males deliver from prominent perches or in flight at dawn and early morning.

“sweet-sweet, goo-la-dee, goo-la-dee-loo”

Birders often file this one under Fluting Cascade.

How to find the bird singing it

Open grasslands, native prairies, pastures, hayfields, agricultural stubble, sagebrush flats, and road edges; usually where grasses are knee-high or shorter and scattered shrubs or fence posts offer perches.

Black Chest "V": Bold black chevron across bright yellow throat and breast—diagnostic in adults.
Yellow Underparts: Throat and belly vivid yellow fading to whitish under tail coverts.
Streaked Mantle & Back: Buffy brown upperparts heavily streaked with black and white, blending with dried grasses.

When you'll hear it

Breeding

Plumage brightest; males sing persistently from exposed perches; pair formation, nest building, and territorial defense.

Non-breeding

Yellow duller, black V partially hidden by pale feather edgings; birds form loose flocks and feed quietly in fields.

Juvenile

Buffy, heavily streaked underparts with only a faint or absent chest V; pale gape and shorter tail.

Don’t confuse it with

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

Eastern Meadowlark

Song is simple, clear whistles instead of complex flute-like phrases.

Western Meadowlark song FAQ

What does a Western Meadowlark song sound like?

A rich, gurgling series of mellow flute-like notes that accelerate then trail off; males deliver from prominent perches or in flight at dawn and early morning. Birders write it as "sweet-sweet, goo-la-dee, goo-la-dee-loo".

How do I tell a Western Meadowlark from an Eastern Meadowlark by ear?

Eastern Meadowlark: Song is simple, clear whistles instead of complex flute-like phrases.

When is the best time to hear the Western Meadowlark song?

Arrives on breeding grounds as soon as snow melts (March–April); peak nesting April–July with second broods possible; post-breeding flocks form by late summer; southward movements September–November; winter flocks roam stubble fields and prairies December–February.

More Western Meadowlark sounds

Western 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?