The western meadowlark is a bird I remember from my youth in the foothills overlooking City Creek Canyon in Salt Lake City. My father used to tell me that it's song was, "Salt Lake City is a pretty little place."
I'd not seen one in years until just recently in Live Oak Canyon. I was perplexed in trying to recognize it. I'd not had a view of its yellow breast, all I was seeing was a long pointed bill with some yellow above the eye and on the throat and a stripe through its eye.
It has yellow underparts, a black "V" on the breast (pale yellow and a faint brown "V" in non-breeding birds) and white flanks streaked with black and white outer tail feathers. The upperparts are mostly brown, but have some black streaks. It has a long pointed bill and a head striped with light brown and black bands.
I don't remember ever hearing a meadowlark's song here. I would love to hear one!
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