Quick Answer
There are many types of birds that can be found in grassland habitats. Some of the most common grassland birds include larks, meadowlarks, dickcissels, bobolinks, Eastern and Western meadowlarks, grasshopper sparrows, Henslow’s sparrows, longspurs, savannah sparrows, Vesper sparrows, field sparrows, loggerhead shrikes, Northern harriers, upland sandpipers, American kestrels, red-winged blackbirds, Eastern kingbirds, scissor-tailed flycatchers, mourning doves, killdeer, horned larks, and Western meadowlarks. Birds that inhabit grasslands are well-adapted to open areas and are quite different from forest-dwelling bird species.
Overview of Grassland Birds
Grasslands provide habitat for a unique variety of bird species. Grassland birds tend to be small to medium sized with short wings best suited for low, open country flight. Many grassland birds have streaked or plain brown plumage that allows them to camouflage and blend in with the open fields and plains. These birds also tend to build well-hidden nests on the ground that blend into the grass.
Some key features of grassland birds include:
– Small to medium sized builds with short, rounded wings
– Streaked brown, tan, gray, or buff colored plumage for camouflage
– Tend to nest and feed on the ground
– High speed flight close to the ground
– Musical and buzzing call notes that carry over open areas
Well-known grassland bird species groups include:
Larks
Larks are medium sized songbirds best known for their melodious song and for singing in flight over grasslands. There are about 90 different lark species worldwide. Some common North American larks include the Horned Lark and the Skylark.
Sparrows
Many types of sparrows including Grasshopper Sparrows, Vesper Sparrows, Savannah Sparrows, Henslow’s Sparrows, and Field Sparrows inhabit open grassy areas. These small brown birds blend into the fields where they nest and forage on seeds and insects.
Meadowlarks
Meadowlarks are chunky, medium-sized grassland birds with bright yellow underparts and complex flute-like songs. The Eastern and Western Meadowlark are two common grassland inhabiting species.
Blackbirds
The Red-winged Blackbird is abundant across North America in wet grasslands. Males are all black with bright red and yellow shoulder patches.
Longspurs and Buntings
Longspurs and buntings like the Dickcissel, Bobolink, and Eastern meadowlark favor tall grass prairies. The males sing distinctive songs over breeding grounds.
Shrikes
Loggerhead shrikes are predatory songbirds that inhabit open country and grasslands. They impale prey on thorns and barbed wire fences.
Gamebirds
Ring-necked pheasants, Northern bobwhite, grouse, and wild turkeys frequent grassy fields and meadows. Several species of quail are also at home in the grasslands.
Raptors
Birds of prey like the Red-tailed hawk, Northern harrier, American kestrel, and Swainson’s hawk hunt over open grasslands for rodents and other small prey.
Major Grassland Regions
There are several major grassland habitats and ecoregions around the world that support unique grassland bird communities:
Shortgrass Prairie
The shortgrass prairie covers parts of the Great Plains in the central United States and Canada. Drought and grazing maintain the short grass, sparse vegetation that is home to species like Baird’s Sparrow.
Mixed Grass Prairie
The mixed grass prairie ecoregion has higher rainfall than shortgrass areas, supporting grasses of intermediate height. It covers central North America and hosts declining species like Sprague’s Pipit.
Tallgrass Prairie
Tallgrass prairie once covered large portions of the Midwest but is now primarily found in the Flint Hills region of Kansas. Tall grasses support Grasshopper and Henslow’s sparrows.
Palouse Prairie
The Palouse prairie grasslands lie in southeast Washington, northeast Oregon, and western Idaho. Bobolinks and long-billed curlews breed here.
Northern Prairie Region
The Northern Great Plains and Central Lowlands regions contain mixed grass and shortgrass prairies. Species like Chestnut-collared Longspurs are declining here.
California Grasslands
Grasslands in California including the Central Valley, Coast Range, and interior foothills host declining populations of Savannah Sparrows and other grassland specialists.
Pampas
The Pampas grasslands of South America are an important wintering ground for Bobolinks and other grassland species that breed in North America.
Eurasian Steppe
The Eurasian steppe grasslands stretch from Eastern Europe to Mongolia. Skylarks, Lapland Longspurs, and rustic buntings inhabit this region.
African Savanna
The savanna grasslands of East Africa are home to unique species like the Red-necked Spurfowl, Rufous-naped Lark, and Croaking Cisticola.
Australian Grasslands
Birds like the Spinifexbird and Flock Bronzewing are found in the desert grasslands and savannas of the Australian interior.
Common Grassland Birds of North America
Here is an overview of some of the most common bird species found in the grassland habitats of North America:
1. Western Meadowlark
– Size: 9-10 inches
– Description: Yellow chest and throat with black “V” on chest. White outer tail feathers.
– Song: Distinctive flute-like song in several different pitch patterns.
– Range: Widespread in western North America in open grasslands.
2. Horned Lark
– Size: 6-7 inches
– Description: Pale brown overall with yellow face and breast. Black “horns.”
– Song: High-pitched songs in flight over open country.
– Range: Common across North America in bare, open habitats.
3. Grasshopper Sparrow
– Size: 5 inches
– Description: Plain brown back with buff and gray head. Short tail.
– Song: Insect-like buzzing song.
– Range: Found in grasslands across much of North America.
4. Bobolink
– Size: 6-7 inches
– Description: Male is black with buff nape and white back. Female is brown striped.
– Song: Bubbling metallic “pink” song.
– Range: Breeds across Northeastern/Midwestern North America and winters in South America.
5. Savannah Sparrow
– Size: 5-6 inches
– Description: Streaked brown back, pale buff face with gray crown stripe.
– Song: Simple, repeated single note song.
– Range: Common in open habitats throughout North America.
6. Killdeer
– Size: 9-10 inches
– Description: Two black breast bands and red eye ring.
– Call: Loud “kill-deer” call.
– Range: Found in open habitats throughout North America.
7. Red-winged Blackbird
– Size: 7-9 inches
– Description: Male is all black with red/yellow shoulder patches. Female is streaked brown.
– Song: Liquid “konk-la-ree” song.
– Range: Very abundant in wetlands across North America.
8. Ring-necked Pheasant
– Size: 20-28 inches
– Description: Long dark barred tail, iridescent heads, red face patch on males.
– Call: Crow-like “cok-cok” calls.
– Range: Introduced grassland gamebird found across much of North America.
9. Dickcissel
– Size: 5-6 inches
– Description: Yellow chest with black “bib” on males. Heavily streaked back.
– Song: Sharp repetitive trill.
– Range: Summer resident of Midwest grasslands, winters in South America.
10. Eastern Meadowlark
– Size: 7-10 inches
– Description: Yellow throat and chest with black “V.” White outer tail feathers.
– Song: Flute-like song like Western Meadowlark.
– Range: Grasslands of Eastern North America, less common than Western.
Threats to Grassland Birds
Many grassland bird species have experienced significant population declines due to a number of factors:
Habitat Loss
The conversion of native grasslands to farmland has dramatically reduced available breeding habitat for grassland specialists. For example, tallgrass prairie is now found only in isolated remnants making up less than 4% of its historic range.
Habitat Fragmentation
Remaining grasslands are often broken up into smaller, isolated fragments surrounded by unsuitably wooded or developed land. Fragmentation makes it harder for grassland birds to successfully disperse and find mates.
Invasive Species
Invasive grasses introduced for cattle grazing like smooth brome outcompete native grasses. This decreases habitat suitability for nesting birds that rely on specific grassland plant communities.
Unsustainable Grazing
Overgrazing by cattle can degrade grasslands by removing too much vegetation cover. Light to moderate grazing can benefit some grassland birds, but overgrazing leaves little cover for nesting and foraging.
Earlier Haying & Mowing
Hay and grass crops are harvested earlier before grassland birds can complete their breeding cycles, destroying eggs and nestlings. Delaying mowing improves reproductive success.
Pesticides
Pesticide use reduces availability of invertebrate prey populations for grassland birds and may accumulate in bird tissues or have reproductive effects.
extreme Weather
Extremes like drought, floods, and severe winters take a toll on grassland bird populations already stressed by declining habitat. Nesting success is highly dependent on weather patterns.
Predation
In fragmented landscapes, higher predator densities may increase nest predation on grassland birds and reduce productivity. Managing predator populations can potentially improve nesting success.
Conservation Actions
A number of conservation strategies can help protect and restore grassland bird populations:
Habitat Preservation
Protecting remaining intact grasslands from conversion to other land uses is essential for grassland specialists with limited ranges. Public lands and private conservation easements help secure habitat.
Habitat Restoration
Replanting native grasses and removing invasive vegetation can improve degraded grasslands. Restored prairie fragments support larger bird populations than unrestored patches.
Sustainable Grazing
Well-managed rotational grazing systems balance agricultural needs with habitat requirements like vegetation height for nesting cover.
Delayed Haying
Cutting hay after July gives grassland birds time to finish breeding. Incentive programs compensate farmers who delay mowing.
Prescribed Fire
Prescribed burns remove excess grass litter, stimulate new growth, and control invasive plants to benefit native grassland birds.
Private & Agricultural Incentives
Government and NGO programs provide financial incentives to landowners for implementing wildlife-friendly practices that support grassland birds.
Monitoring & Research
Continued monitoring and banding studies help identify population trends and habitat relationships to guide effective conservation of grassland bird communities.
Conclusion
Grassland birds inhabit a diverse array of open habitats across North America and around the world. While many species are declining, conservation efforts focused on habitat protection, restoration, and sustainable management practices can help support populations of these unique grassland specialists into the future. Key strategies include preserving intact prairies, improving fragmented lands, and partnering with landowners to integrate wildlife-friendly techniques into working agricultural grasslands. Ongoing research and monitoring continues to reveal new insights into the habitat needs and population dynamics of grassland birds to guide thoughtful conservation planning. With informed management, grassland bird communities and the prairie landscapes they depend on can persist for generations to come.
