| Sturnella | |
|---|---|
| |
| Eastern meadowlark (Sturnella magna) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Icteridae |
| Genus: | Sturnella Vieillot, 1816 |
| Type species | |
| Alauda magna Linnaeus, 1758 | |
| Species | |
|
See text | |
The genus Sturnella are North American grassland birds called meadowlarks. The genus was previously lumped with the South American meadowlarks now placed in the genus Leistes.
It includes two or three species of largely insectivorous grassland birds. In all species, the male has at least a black or brown back and extensively yellow underparts.
The genus Sturnella was introduced in 1816 by the French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot with the eastern meadowlark (Sturnella magna) as the type species.[1][2] The name Sturnella is a diminutive of the Latin sturnus meaning "starling".[3]
By the early 20th century, the meadowlarks were split. Only the "yellow-breasted" meadowlarks (eastern and western meadowlarks, including Lilian's) remained in the genus Sturnella. The red-breasted and white-browed meadowlarks were moved to the genus Leistes, while the pampas meadowlark, Peruvian meadowlark and long-tailed meadowlark made up the genus Pezites, which was established by Cabanis in 1851. By the late 20th century, all meadowlarks were lumped in the genus Sturnella. In 2017, all the red-breasted meadowlarks were merged into the genus Leistes.
The genus contains three species:[4]
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern meadowlark
|
Sturnella magna (Linnaeus, 1758) Fourteen subspecies
|
eastern North America to northern South America
|
Size: Habitat: Diet: |
NT
|
| Chihuahuan meadowlark
|
Sturnella lilianae Oberholser, 1930 Two subspecies
|
northern Mexico and the southwestern portion of the United States
|
Size: Habitat: Diet: |
LC
|
| Western meadowlark
|
Sturnella neglecta (Audubon, 1844) Two subspecies
|
western and central North America.
|
Size: Habitat: Diet: |
LC
|
| Sturnella |
|
|---|---|
