NCRS - The Changing Midwest Assessment

The Eastern Meadowlark, Sturnella magna, is a member of the Family Icteridae (Blackbirds and Orioles). It is a medium sized bird that is frequently seen in open habitats. It is similar in appearance to the Western Meadowlark, with buff and black head stripes and a sharply pointed bill; yellow under parts with a distinctive black "v" on the breast, white flanks with black streaks, brown upper parts with black streaks, and a brown tail with white outer tail feathers.
The Eastern Meadowlark is a short distant migrant that breeds in grassland habitat. It is a ground or low nesting bird, with a diet consisting primarily of insects and lesser quantities of seeds. Identification and life history data compiled by Gregory Gough, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i5010id.html