The Peruvian meadowlark is a species of bird in the family Icteridae. It is found in western Peru, Ecuador and far northern Chile.
Region
Western South America
Typical Environment
Occurs along the Pacific slope of western Peru, western Ecuador, and into far northern Chile. It favors open habitats including coastal desert scrub, lomas vegetation, grazed pastures, stubble fields, and weedy agricultural margins. The species readily uses human-modified landscapes where low vegetation provides foraging and nesting cover. It is generally absent from dense forest and prefers patchy shrub–grass mosaics. Local densities can be high where pastureland and scrub intermix.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 2000 m
Climate Zone
Arid
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Peruvian meadowlark is a striking icterid of the Pacific lowlands of western South America. Males show vivid scarlet underparts that contrast sharply with their dark upperparts, while females are cryptically streaked for camouflage in grasses. They often sing from fence posts or shrubs in open country and frequently exploit agricultural and pasture landscapes. Ground-nesting and largely terrestrial, they benefit from short, open vegetation.
Temperament
wary and terrestrial
Flight Pattern
low, undulating flight with short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Typically in pairs during breeding, with males singing from exposed perches to advertise territories. Outside the breeding season it may form small loose groups in open fields. Nests are usually placed on or near the ground, concealed in grass clumps. Both sexes attend the nest, and females are especially secretive near the nest site.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
The song is a series of clear, whistled notes delivered from a perch, often sweet and slightly plaintive. Calls include sharp chips and chatters given in flight or when alarmed.
Plumage
Male with dark brown-black upperparts and bright scarlet throat and breast; contrasty and clean-colored below. Female is heavily streaked brown above and below with buffy tones and lacks the male’s red; overall cryptic with fine striping. Both sexes have a fairly long, straight bill and rounded wings; tail relatively short for a meadowlark.
Diet
Feeds mainly on insects such as beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, and other arthropods gleaned from the ground and low vegetation. It also takes seeds and grains, especially in the non-breeding season, and occasionally small fruits. Foraging is mostly by walking and probing, with short hops to pick prey from low stems.
Preferred Environment
Most often seen foraging in short grass, stubble fields, pasture edges, and open scrub with scattered shrubs. It commonly uses agricultural margins, road verges, and lomas vegetation where bare ground is interspersed with low cover.
