Western Meadowlark

A super songster in the Badlands.

This is the dry mixed grass habitat of Dinosaur Provincial Park in Alberta, Canada. The microphones faced this view. The top of the escarpment visible in the top centre left is where the geese were landing.

Out west again from Dinosaur Provincial Park, as recorded earlier this year:

Please use headphones for the best listening experience.

Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) by Cephas. (CC BY-SA 4.0. No changes.)

The microphones were set up (see below) against a backdrop of the Badland cliffs in the Red Deer River valley. The sounds of a brook surge and fade with the breeze, and crickets sing while a Western Meadowlark gives out its warbling flute-like calls over the dry grasslands. Overhead, a large bumblebee drones past. Rock Pigeons croon from nests in the background cliffs, and Cliff Swallows chur nearby. Occasionally, the distant muffled voices of tourists can be heard, only to be overpowered momentarily by the raucous sound of incoming Canada Geese landing on the top of the ecarpment in front. Undaunted by the commotion, the Meadowlark soon continues with its melodious call.

Microphone positioning is about 46 cm (18”) apart, with a stone in between to increase stereo separation.

Other birds in this recording include Spotted Towhee, Clay-coloured Sparrows, and Barn Swallows. (ID by Merlin, let me know if you hear anything else—or if there are any discrepancies —in the comments below.)

Recorded on 24 May 2025.