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Monarch caterpillar

Find a Bird

Eastern Meadowlark
Sturnella magna

The Eastern Meadowlark is arguably the grassland bird species that has been hardest hit by the loss of grassland habitat in Massachusetts. This species has disappeared from more than 75 percent of its 1979 distribution, and its breeding range in Massachusetts is now quite restricted.
Conservation Status
Conservation Action Urgent

Tracking This Bird In Massachusetts

Climate Vulnerability Score

Least Vulnerable
Mass Audubon Mean likelihood of occurrence (current)
0.48
Mass Audubon Mean likelihood of occurrence (2050)
0.49
Mass Audubon Absolute change in likelihood of occurrence
0.01
U.S. Forest Service Climate Change Bird Atlas (Hadly Hi emissions scenario)a
9.70
National Audubon Societyb
n/a
a USFS model data for Massachusetts by 2100
b National Audubon Society's Climate Change Atlas was completed on a continental scale.

Breeding Bird Atlas

Atlas I Blocks
427
Atlas II Blocks
105
Percent of state occupied - Atlas I
44
Percent of state occupied - Atlas II
10
Percent change
21

Breeding Bird Survey

Annual trend 1966-2010
-9.6%
P-value
significant, declining
Number of routes
23
Recent trend 2000-2010
-10%

Christmas Bird Count

Trend (1963-2008)
-8.9
Significantly different than zero
yes
Trend (1963-1979)
-8.6
Significantly different than zero
yes
Trend (1979-2008)
-8
Significantly different than zero
yes
Christmas Bird Count Sightings By Year
Data reflects sightings per person per hour in order to account for varying numbers of yearly volunteers.

Habitat Usage

Breeding

Grassland

Wintering

Grassland, Saltmarsh

Climate Suitability Current and 2050