Chihuahuan Meadowlark
Sturnella lilianae
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyIcteridae (New World Blackbirds and Orioles)
- GenusSturnella (Yellow-breasted Meadowlarks)
- SpeciesSturnella lilianae (Chihuahuan Meadowlark)
About the Chihuahuan Meadowlark
The Chihuahuan meadowlark (Sturnella lilianae), also known as Lilian's meadowlark, is a bird in the family Icteridae, the oropendolas, New World orioles, and New World blackbirds. It is found in Mexico and the United States.
The Chihuahuan meadowlark was formally described in 1930 by the American ornithologist Harry C. Oberholser as a subspecies of the eastern meadowlark based on a holotype that had been collected in the Huachuca Mountains of Arizona. Oberholser proposed the trinomial Sturnella magna lilianae. The subspecific epithet lilianae was chosen to honor Lilian Hanna Baldwin (wife of ornithologist Samuel Prentiss Baldwin), as she had presented the Cleveland Museum of Natural History the collection of birds that included the type specimen of the new subspecies.
The Chihuahuan meadowlark's further taxonomy is unsettled. A 2021 publication detailed morphological, vocal, and genomic differences between the Chihuahuan meadowlark and the other subspecies of the eastern meadowlark. Based largely on it, in 2022 the American Ornithological Society, the Clements taxonomy, and the IOC recognized two of the subspecies of the eastern meadowlark as the Chichuahuan... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Chihuahuan Meadowlark in Big Bend National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Big Bend National Park
Western Meadowlark
Sturnella neglecta
Scott's Oriole
Icterus parisorum
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
Brewer's Blackbird
Euphagus cyanocephalus
Great-tailed Grackle
Quiscalus mexicanus
Orchard Oriole
Icterus spurius
Bullock's Oriole
Icterus bullockii
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
Hooded Oriole
Icterus cucullatus
Bronzed Cowbird
Molothrus aeneus
Common Grackle
Quiscalus quiscula
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 2 | Saguaro National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Chihuahuan Meadowlark in Big Bend National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Chihuahuan Meadowlark sighting in Big Bend National Park, based on 55 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Chihuahuan Meadowlark in Big Bend National Park?
October has the highest sighting rate for Chihuahuan Meadowlark in Big Bend National Park in our monthly data.