meadowlark

noun

mead·​ow·​lark ˈme-dō-ˌlärk 

-də-

: any of several American songbirds (genera Sturnella and Leistes of the family Icteridae) that are streaked brown above and in northernmost forms have a yellow breast marked with a black crescent

Illustration of meadowlark

Examples of meadowlark in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Tiny butterflies, identifiable by species, flit among blooming epiphytes; red-breasted meadowlarks take to the air; an emerald-green quetzal perches on a branch. — Susan Tallman, The Atlantic, 13 June 2026

Meanwhile, cardinals, blue jays, robins, mockingbirds, catbirds, orioles, meadowlarks, goldfinches, buntings, and woodpeckers do not. Pick the right birdhouse: Opt for a birdhouse with untreated wood as the inner surface. — Molly Burford, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026

The eastern meadowlark requires open fields for feeding and nesting. — Charlotte Observer, 25 Sep. 2025

It’s also known for its birdlife, with meadowlarks, bobolinks, and migrating cranes using the prairie as seasonal habitat. — Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for meadowlark

• disembark
• matriarch
• patriarch
• watermark
• arc
• ark
• bark
• barque
• dark
• hark
• lark
• marc

Kids Definition

meadowlark

noun

mead·​ow·​lark -ˌlärk 

: any of several North American songbirds that are largely brown and buff above with a yellow breast having a black V-shaped mark across it