Long-tailed Meadowlark

Taxobox
name = Long-tailed Meadowlark
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1

---

regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Icteridae
genus = "Sturnella"
species = "S. loyca"
binomial = "Sturnella loyca"
binomial_authority = (Molina, 1782)The Long-tailed Meadowlark ("Sturnella loyca") is a passerine bird of southern South America and the Falkland Islands, belonging to the meadowlark genus "Sturnella" in the icterid family.

It is 25 to 28 cm long with a fairly long tail and a long, pointed bill. The male is mostly dark brown with blackish streaking. The breast and throat are bright red and there is a white spot on the face near the base of the bill. The bold supercilium is white behind the eye and red in front of it. Females are paler than the males. The red markings are restricted to a wash on the belly and the supercilium and throat are buff.

It breeds in southern Chile and southern and western parts of Argentina. Some birds migrate northwards in winter. An endemic subspecies occurs in the Falkland Islands. Long-tailed Meadowlarks are found in open habitats such as grassland where they forage on the ground, feeding mainly on invertebrates.

The nest is made of dry grass and is built by the female. It is placed on or near the ground amongst grass. Two clutches of two to four eggs are laid during the breeding season. They are bluish-white with dark blotches and streaks.

References

*aut|Jaramillo, Alvaro; Burke, Peter & Beadle, David (2003) "Field Guide to the Birds of Chile", Christopher Helm, London.
*aut|Woods, Robin W. (1988) "Guide to Birds of the Falkland Islands", Anthony Nelson, Oswestry.

External links

* [http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/especie.phtml?idEspecie=9700 Long-tailed Meadowlark videos] on the Internet Bird Collection
* [http://www.bird-stamps.org/cspecies/20401800.htm Stamps] (for Chile, Falkland Islands) with RangeMap
* [http://vireo.acnatsci.org/search.html?Form=Search&SEARCHBY=Common&KEYWORDS=long-tailed+meadowlark&showwhat=images&AGE=All&SEX=All&ACT=All&Search=Search&VIEW=All&ORIENTATION=All&RESULTS=24 Long-tailed Meadowlark photo gallery] VIREO
* [http://borderland-tours.com/v2/images/stories/borderland/gallery_photos/argentina/long-tailed%20meadowlark.jpgPhoto-High Res] ; [http://borderland-tours.com/v2/content/view/55/77/ Article] borderland-tours