- Long-tailed Meadowlark
Taxobox
name = Long-tailed Meadowlark
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia =Icterid ae
genus = "Sturnella"
species = "S. loyca"
binomial = "Sturnella loyca"
binomial_authority = (Molina, 1782)The Long-tailed Meadowlark ("Sturnella loyca") is apasserine bird of southernSouth America and theFalkland Islands , belonging to themeadowlark genus "Sturnella" in theicterid family.It is 25 to 28 cm long with a fairly long tail and a long, pointed bill. The male is mostly dark brown with blackish streaking. The breast and throat are bright red and there is a white spot on the face near the base of the bill. The bold
supercilium is white behind the eye and red in front of it. Females are paler than the males. The red markings are restricted to a wash on the belly and the supercilium and throat are buff.It breeds in southern
Chile and southern and western parts ofArgentina . Some birds migrate northwards in winter. An endemicsubspecies occurs in theFalkland Islands . Long-tailed Meadowlarks are found in open habitats such as grassland where they forage on the ground, feeding mainly oninvertebrate s.The
nest is made of dry grass and is built by the female. It is placed on or near the ground amongst grass. Two clutches of two to four eggs are laid during the breeding season. They are bluish-white with dark blotches and streaks.References
*aut|Jaramillo, Alvaro; Burke, Peter & Beadle, David (2003) "Field Guide to the Birds of Chile", Christopher Helm, London.
*aut|Woods, Robin W. (1988) "Guide to Birds of the Falkland Islands", Anthony Nelson, Oswestry.External links
* [http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/especie.phtml?idEspecie=9700 Long-tailed Meadowlark videos] on the Internet Bird Collection
* [http://www.bird-stamps.org/cspecies/20401800.htm Stamps] (forChile ,Falkland Islands ) with RangeMap
* [http://vireo.acnatsci.org/search.html?Form=Search&SEARCHBY=Common&KEYWORDS=long-tailed+meadowlark&showwhat=images&AGE=All&SEX=All&ACT=All&Search=Search&VIEW=All&ORIENTATION=All&RESULTS=24 Long-tailed Meadowlark photo gallery] VIREO
* [http://borderland-tours.com/v2/images/stories/borderland/gallery_photos/argentina/long-tailed%20meadowlark.jpgPhoto-High Res] ; [http://borderland-tours.com/v2/content/view/55/77/ Article] borderland-tours
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