FIRST RECORD OF THE EASTERN MEADOWLARK FOR CALIFORNIA

Abstract

 In the summer of 2018, in a meadow in northeastern California, Calvin Lou and I found a singing male Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) showing characteristics of either the nominate subspecies S. m. magna or of S. m. argutula (photograph on this issue’s back cover). The bird was seen from 10 June to 30 July. This represents the fist documented and accepted record of this species in California (California Bird Records Committee record #2018-057) and one of few in the West. Here I describe its identifiCation, habitat, and the species’ status in the West.