Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) is in the New World Blackbirds and Orioles family (Icteridae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 14,185 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
Conservation status (iNaturalist): NT.
When to photograph Eastern Meadowlark: observations by month (U.S.)
About Eastern Meadowlark
...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Eastern Meadowlark by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 2,298 | March | Oct–Jun |
| Texas | 2,235 | April | Oct–Jun |
| Illinois | 901 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Tennessee | 748 | April | Jan–Jul |
| Ohio | 693 | March | Mar–Jul |
| Virginia | 644 | May | Feb–Jul |
| North Carolina | 532 | May | Oct–Jun |
| Maryland | 417 | April | Oct–Jul |
| Oklahoma | 383 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Louisiana | 379 | April | Oct–Jun |
| Pennsylvania | 362 | April | Mar–Jul |
| Arkansas | 354 | May | Oct–Aug |
| Alabama | 336 | May | Sep–Jun |
| Minnesota | 328 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Kansas | 322 | May | Mar–Jul |
| New York | 303 | April | Mar–Jul |
| Wisconsin | 303 | May | Mar–Jul |
| Michigan | 297 | April | Mar–Jul |
| Missouri | 283 | March | Feb–Jun |
| Georgia | 238 | January | Oct–Jul |
| Nebraska | 214 | May | Mar–Jun |
| Massachusetts | 196 | June | Mar–Jul |
| Vermont | 190 | April | Apr–Jul |
| South Carolina | 183 | January | Oct–Jul |
| Indiana | 179 | May | Mar–Jun |
| Kentucky | 154 | April | Jan–May |
| West Virginia | 150 | June | Mar–Jun |
| Iowa | 138 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Mississippi | 132 | November | Nov–Jun |
| New Jersey | 105 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Delaware | 49 | January | Oct–Mar |
| Connecticut | 37 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Maine | 25 | May | Apr–Jul |
| New Hampshire | 22 | June | Mar–Jun |
| District of Columbia | 16 | October | Oct–Oct |
| South Dakota | 14 | May | May–Jun |
| Colorado | 12 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Rhode Island | 9 | January | Oct–Feb |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (New World Blackbirds and Orioles)
Red-winged Blackbird
Great-tailed Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole
Brewer's Blackbird
Boat-tailed Grackle
Western Meadowlark
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Eastern Meadowlark?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from December to July.
Where is Eastern Meadowlark most often seen?
The most observations come from Florida, Texas, Illinois.