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A meadowlark species was found on the Herbster Christmas Bird Count in northwestern Bayfield County back in December 2013. Amazingly, it continued at a residential feeder daily through the 2014 Great Backyard Bird Count but was finally found dead in late February. Though unfortunate, this offered a rare opportunity to determine species. Many fall/winter meadowlark records in Wisconsin are falsely assumed to be Easterns b/c this is the most common spring/summer meadowlark in the state. However, a closer look at records with enough detail reveals a high probability of Western at this time. Sure enough, the Herbster bird proves to be a Western based on tail pattern, showing extensive white only on two outermost rectrices (vs. 3-4 in Eastern) and distinctly barred central rects (vs. blobby bars connected by black along the shaft in Eastern). In the first pic here, Pyle hit the nail on the head - Figure C is Eastern, while Fig. D is Western. Last pic shows posture in which the bird was found, indicating it probably could just no longer keep up with this winter.
All images copyrighted to Ryan Brady and cannot be used without permission
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