Date: 1/25/25 3:15 pm From: Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> Subject: EASTERN AND WESTERN MEADOWLARKS IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS CITY
I took what Doug James would have called a “quick and dirty” look at about 38 eBird checklist submissions associated with the Chestnut-collared Longspur. It was first identified at Fayetteville by Kenny Younger on January 19, 2025.
Of the 38 checklists, about 23 submitted lists included meadowlarks. Of these 23, about 14 lists had high numbers in the Eastern/Western choice. Of the 23 lists, there were high numbers of Easterns on 11 checklists. Of the 23 lists, none listed high numbers of Westerns.
My take on these results: high numbers of Eastern Meadowlarks are a mistaken assumption. Low numbers of Western Meadowlarks are also a mistaken assumption. The 14 lists with high numbers in the Eastern/Western choice are probably best, reasonable estimates.
Farm land with the CCLO is Eastern Meadowlark habitat exclusively only during breeding season. But the winter population involves much higher meadowlark numbers, including many more of both Eastern and Western Meadowlarks.
There is no evidence that in winter Eastern Meadowlarks outnumber Western Meadowlarks on former Tallgrass Prairie habitats in northwestern Arkansas.
There are several ways to differentiate Eastern and Western Meadowlarks, but other than songs and calls, none are of much use in the field unless you have time for close looks at individual birds. Unless there is specific evidence that the bird in question is Eastern or Western (for example, hearing calls or songs), the most useful choice in an eBird submission for silent meadowlarks is Eastern/Western.
In summary, assigning unknown meadowlarks to Eastern is an error, at least in the context of northwestern Arkansas. Recognizing this is important in the context of “citizen science.” Researchers looking at big data – for example eBird, CBC, Backyard Bird Count -- depend upon us to be as accurate as possible.
