67Firebird
Former political advocate
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 9180
Loc: Russellville, Mo
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...am I seeing? When I drive by open fields around here (20mi SW of Jeff City), I see these birds take off from the barbed wire fences, and can't figure out what they are.
They're the general size and shape of a Starling, but are a brown/tan mottled color, except for the two outer feathers on each side of their tails being pure white. I've looked in guide books and on the internet, but can't find anything with tail feathers like that.
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fish
senior member - literally
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 2464
Loc: Kingdom of Callaway
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]meadowlark[/url]
Kurt- do believe it to be a meadowlark. In my youthful days used them as practice for upcoming quail season.
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67Firebird
Former political advocate
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 9180
Loc: Russellville, Mo
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Thanks JD, I believe that's it.
In all my searching, I'd never found a pic showing what I've been seeing. Searching for "Meadowlark in flight" gave me the pic right away.
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Mac
Birding Moderator
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 3379
Loc: The Great State of Nebraskey
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True story about J. Audubon and his discovery of the eastern meadowlarks. He named the bird "Sterna magna". He saw and heard it call often, sort of a whistling call. As Audubon headed west in his explorations, he began to hear a flute-like call, but didn't recognize it. Turns out he had discovered the other species of meadowlarks, which he aptly named "Sterna neglecta".
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