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Nocturnal Singing of the Western Meadowlark

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A search through what ornithological literature I have available fails to disclose any published reference to night singing of the Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta). My observations concerning the nocturnal singing habits of this bird in extreme northwestern Montana may therefore be of interest.

In this locality, songs of the Western Meadowlark can be heard at night regularly from about the middle of April until the middle of June. (Usual daytime songs are heard daily from the date of spring arrival of the birds, early in March, until the time of their departure in October.) Singing is not continued for any length of time during the night; instead, it seems to be done at occasional awakenings, which occur at all hours of the night, but most frequently between dark and midnight. Although generally only one song is given by a bird during one awakening, frequently two to as many as twelve songs are uttered, at intervals ranging from a few seconds to a minute or longer. Often a song by one bird is followed at once by songs from one to four other birds within hearing range of the first.

The songs given by the birds at night are usually their typical territory songs. Sometimes a song will he broken off abruptly after the first two or three notes have been given. All singing is done with fully as great vigor as during daylight hours.

Fortine, Montana, April 29, 1933

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