Western Meadowlark State Bird of Montana

Reviewed byClara WhitcombReader-facing editorial lead · Updated Apr 25, 2026

State profile

Why the Western Meadowlark fits Montana

The Western Meadowlark feels like a natural fit for Montana because it belongs to prairie, foothill grassland, and broad ranch country. Whether you notice it around Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge or in an ordinary neighborhood yard, the species reflects the parts of Montana people actually see and hear, not a remote corner of the map.

Quick Answer

The state bird of Montana is the Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta), designated in 1931.

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Why Montana Chose the Western Meadowlark

Montana designated the Western Meadowlark in 1931 because of its strong association with open plains and the fact that its song belongs to eastern Montana as much as the horizon itself. It was a practical symbolic choice: familiar to residents, visible across much of the state, and easy to connect with local schools, gardens, farms, parks, or conservation culture.

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About the Western Meadowlark

A bright yellow breast crossed by a bold black V makes the Western Meadowlark stand out whenever it pops above prairie grass. In Montana, it looks especially at home across prairie, foothill grassland, and broad ranch country.

It forages on the ground for insects and seeds, sings from fence posts and shrubs, and nests low in grassland cover. It uses prairie, rangeland, hayfields, and open country with grass structure well, which helps explain why the bird feels familiar well beyond protected areas.

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Where to See the Western Meadowlark in Montana

In Montana, start with Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, the Bison Range, and Makoshika State Park. Scan posts, wires, and slightly raised tufts where singing birds climb up before dropping back into the grass. Spring and early summer are ideal because males sing often and stay more exposed than they do later in the season. These kinds of places match the bird's preferred mix of prairie, rangeland, hayfields, and open country with grass structure.

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Conservation

The Western Meadowlark is currently listed as LC. Western Meadowlarks remain widespread, but large-scale grassland loss and heavy disturbance during nesting season can depress breeding numbers.

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Explore the collection

All 50 State Birds

All 50 US states have designated official state birds. The most commonly chosen are the Northern Cardinal and the Western Meadowlark.

Black-capped Chickadee

Black-capped Chickadee

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Montana state bird?

Good starting points include Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, the Bison Range, and Makoshika State Park. Scan posts, wires, and slightly raised tufts where singing birds climb up before dropping back into the grass.

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Source citations

How this state-bird page is sourced

State-bird pages separate official-symbol facts, bird data, and editorial prose so a correction can target the right layer.

State designation facts from the KTP state-bird data contract and page data.
Taxonomy, measurements, family, and conservation fields from structured pipeline data.
Editorial prose reviewed against KTP rules for no invented numbers and no field-certainty claims from generated art.

Correction log

Official state-symbol details are corrected at the state-bird data source, then republished into PAGE_DATA.
Bird measurements, family labels, and conservation fields are corrected in the structured species pipeline rather than patched in prose.
Generated prose is revised only after the owning data fields and section contract are confirmed.

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