Western Meadowlark
Sturnella neglecta
Synopsis: Nests throughout rangelands and agricultural areas of eastern Oregon, and more locally in lightly-grazed pastures, edges of Christmas tree plantations, hayfields, and fallow fields in the Willamette, Rogue, and Umpqua valleys and along parts of the southern coast. Its breeding range within the Willamette Valley has shrunk dramatically within the past few decades. Most notable are the records from the northern Willamette, Umpqua, and Coquille Valleys, as well as from near the southern Oregon coast.

Habitat Associations:
strongest
Sagebrush Steppe (5223607 acres)
Low-Dwarf Sagebrush (432677 acres)
Salt Desert Scrub Shrubland (571910 acres)
Big Sagebrush Shrubland (12303434 acres)
Bitterbrush-Big Sagebrush Shrubland (153185 acres)
Northeast Modified Grassland (946852 acres)
Edges of Cropland/Pasture/Orchard (5811459 acres)
strong
W. Juniper Woodland (3740262 acres)
Northeast Canyon Grass & Shrubland (398627 acres)
Grassland & Fir-Ponderosa Interspersed (339013 acres)
Seasonally Wet Playa (128054 acres)
lesser
Siskiyou Mtns Shrubland on Serpentine Bedrock (10227 acres)
Mountain Mahogany Shrubland (1378 acres)
Streamside/Wetland Shrubland (678 acres)

Relative Detectability: Easy to detect by sight and song, and easy to confirm breeding.

Challenge: Refine knowledge of distribution in Umpqua and Rogue Valleys, and northward coastal limit.