March 18, 2026

I am an Eastern Meadowlark

But I'm not related to Larks at all

I'm more closely related to Blackbirds

And Cowbirds and Orioles.

Location: DeLuca Preserve, Okeechobee

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Meadowlark/overview

Photo and text © 2026 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

April 13, 2024

I am an Eastern Meadowlark

I have a yellow tummy and black V on my chest

I'm brown and black

On my wings and back

On the ground I blend in, who'd have guessed!

Location: WW Ranch Road, SSRPSP

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Meadowlark/overview

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

January 26, 2023

I am am Eastern Meadowlark

I'm known to mate in a polygynous style

I have a territory that I defend for multiple mates

Using charm, jump flights, and my wile.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Sturnella_magna/

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

May 28, 2022

I am an Eastern Meadowlark,

But despite my name I'm not a lark at all

I'm in the same family as blackbirds and Orioles

But compared to me, their singing is abysmal.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Meadowlark/id

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 10, 2021

I am an Eastern Meadowlark

I look like Meadowlarks found in western states

Our geographies overlap, but we don't get along

And though possible, we very rarely mate.

Location: Kissimmee Prairie State Park

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Meadowlark/overview

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

June 17, 2020

Location: Fellsmere, St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

I am an Eastern Meadowlark

I'm known to sing quite beautifully

Unfortunately I'm vulnerable to climate change

My range might shift with an increase of just 3 degrees.

Sources: Audubon Guide to North American Birds - Eastern Meadowlark

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 1, 2020

Location: Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, Okeechobee

I am an Eastern Meadowlark,
In the summer, I like to eat insects
In the winter I tend to eat seeds
Year round, singing is one of my skill sets.

Sources: Audubon Guide to North American Birds - Eastern Meadowlark

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 13, 2019

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

I am an Eastern Meadowlark
I look a lot like my Western counterpart
My malar stripe's white, their color's less bright
That's what the main differences are.

(Note: We are talking visible differences here. Another very big differences is in their songs.)

Sources: Differences between Eastern Meadowlark, Sturnella magna, and Western Meadowlark, S. neglecta.

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson