Portrait of a Western Meadowlark – Nikon D300, f/13, 1/500, ISO 400, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 328mm, natural light
During the spring Western Meadowlarks (Sturnella neglecta) can be easy to locate and then approach because they spend so much time singing from the tops of boulders, bushes, posts and other man made objects.
I photographed this Meadowlark singing while perched on a sign on Antelope Island State Park this past Monday. The bird was so close that unless I took off my teleconverter I couldn’t fit the whole body of the Meadowlark into the frame. I wasn’t sure how long the bird would stay so I opted to take close ups of it instead of removing the TC.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Western Meadowlark photos plus facts and information about this species.
The Western is the only meadowlark found in Utah and where it occurs with the Eastern (or Lillian’s), the differences can only be discerned by voice or by insurmountably subtle differences in appearance such as the amount of yellow on the malar stripe.
Your image “calls” to mind something I came across the very day you published it–a reference to the songs of Meadowlarks from the “Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club,” beginning p. 145. It is the link to my name, and I will also copy it here.
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/69165#page/161/mode/1up
Matthew, thank you for providing the link that references the songs of Meadowlarks in the bulletin, I enjoyed being able to see the song as musical notes. I wouldn’t be able to tell the Western fron the Eastern Meadowlark without their songs, visually I might be able to if I had extreme close ups like the one in this post, even then I wouldn’t be sure without hearing them call.
I get great solace looking at your photographs Mia.
Stu, thank you for this comment, I’m happy to hear that my images gives you great solace.
Beautiful shot, love it!
Thanks Nicole! I was tickled to be so close to the Meadowlark.
Oh wow,wonderful photo Mia!
Susan, thanks, I was very happy with this image.
Gorgeous tight shot. I like seeing the tongue. How do you get so close to birds? You must be the bird whisperer. 🙂
Hi Julie, the Meadowlarks that perch on this sign seem unafraid of people, it may be because so many cars pass that sign. Thanks for your comment!
Wow! Nice close-up Mia. I love the tip of the tongue sticking out.
Thank you Elijah, the tongue sticking out was a bonus.
Gorgeous Mia. I can’t say anything else. Just gorgeous. Carol
Thank you Carol, you are very kind.
I wish I had that problem more often–the bird being too close. Nice shot!
Yes, it isn’t too often that we get too close to our winged subjects Scott, thanks for your comment.
Great close-up, Mia. I love that he is singing. Makes a great pose. 🙂
Thanks Bob, I liked it that the bird was singing too.
Ha! That’s awesome.
Laurence, thank you, the bird was great at posing.
Wow, that is incredible detail!!! Amazing photo Mia!
Thanks Tammy!
Great closeup, Mia.
Thank you Jim, it was wonderful to be that close.