Lewis and Clark’s famous expedition across the western United States from 1804 to 1806 resulted in the documentation and discovery of many new plant and animal species. Among their observations were dozens of birds, both familiar and exotic to the explorers. Here we will highlight two of the avian species recorded during their monumental journey.
The Western Meadowlark
One of the most commonly observed birds along the Lewis and Clark trail was the Western Meadowlark. This medium-sized, brightly colored songbird breeds in open grasslands across much of western North America. The explorers first noticed these birds near present-day Kansas City, Missouri as they made their way up the Missouri River.
On May 10, 1804, William Clark wrote in his journal: “I saw a Lark of a Different kind from any I ever observed, it is as large as a Partridge nearly white breast with wings black…this Lark Sings delightfully.”
This description clearly points to the Western Meadowlark. The male’s bright yellow underparts and black crescent on the breast are distinctive. The meadowlark’s lovely flute-like song was often heard by Lewis and Clark as they traversed the Great Plains and intermountain west.
Clark noted meadowlarks in areas including present-day Nebraska, the Dakotas, Montana, Idaho, and Oregon. The bird’s fondness for grasslands meant it was ubiquitous across much of the expedition’s route. Even today, the Western Meadowlark remains a classic symbol of the prairies and farmlands of the western and central United States.
Key Facts
- Scientific name: Sturnella neglecta
- Length: 8.5-10.2 inches
- Wingspan: 16.5 inches
- Identifying features: yellow underparts, black V-shaped breast band, white outer tail feathers
- Habitat: grasslands, plains, meadows
- Diet: insects, seeds
- Notable behaviors: melodious flute-like song delivered from a perch or during flight
Lewis’s Woodpecker
Another novel bird spotted and collected during the expedition was Lewis’s Woodpecker. This unusual woodpecker was completely new and unknown to science at the time. Meriwether Lewis first recorded the species along the Musselshell River in central Montana on May 28, 1805.
In his journal, Lewis wrote: “I discovered a bird of the woodpecker kind which fed on the grasshoppers or bugs as they fly. it’s beak is black, edges of upper chap white, breast of a light brick red colour, belly yellow, wings black with a white spot on the coverts near the extrem[ity] forming a bar, the feather of the tail and upper part of the neck for two thirds its length commencing at its lower extremity of a fine light scarlet, have some black specks.”
From this excellent description, ornithologists were later able to determine this was a previously undiscovered species. Lewis’s Woodpecker was named in honor of Meriwether Lewis.
The handsome bird has black upperparts, a gray collar and breast, brick red belly, and greenish-yellow rump. One of its most unusual features is its feeding behavior. Unlike most woodpeckers that drill into wood, Lewis’s Woodpecker primarily feeds on insects captured in flight. Its aerial insect-hunting abilities were noted and admired by Lewis back in 1805.
Today this woodpecker is still found across western North America in open habitats such as pine forests and burned areas with plenty of snags. Although recorded regularly during the expedition through Montana and Idaho, it was not as universally abundant across terrain types as the Western Meadowlark.
Key Facts
- Scientific name: Melanerpes lewis
- Length: 11 inches
- Wingspan: 21 inches
- Identifying features: black back and wings, gray collar and breast, greenish-yellow face and belly
- Habitat: open pine forests, burned areas
- Diet: insects, berries
- Notable behaviors: flies out from perch to catch insects mid-air
The Importance of Lewis & Clark’s Zoological Discoveries
The famous Lewis and Clark expedition from 1804-1806 was commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson shortly after the Louisiana Purchase. Jefferson instructed the expedition leaders to thoroughly document the geography, natural resources, Native American tribes, plants, and animal life of the newly acquired western lands.
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark kept extensive journals and made drawings recording everything they encountered on their epic journey. They were meticulous in noting the wildlife along the route, including mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish.
Dozens of avian species were documented for the first time by the expedition. In addition to the Western Meadowlark and Lewis’s Woodpecker, other birds described and collected include the Mountain Plover, Pinyon Jay, Spotted Owl, Yellow-headed Blackbird, and Bullock’s Oriole. Specimens were carefully preserved and sent back east to President Jefferson.
The Lewis and Clark ornithological discoveries provided the earliest glimpse of the American West’s rich birdlife. Their observations allowed formal scientific naming and classification of previously unknown species. The detailed notes and descriptions of habitat preferences, behavior, nests, and eggs also furthered early American ornithology.
While Native Americans were certainly already familiar with birds of the frontier, the Lewis and Clark expedition made them known to science for the first time. The documentation of avian diversity contributed greatly to knowledge of the new western lands and its natural heritage. It set the stage for many future adventurers and ornithologists to further illuminate North American birdlife.
Habitats Encountered on the Lewis & Clark Route
One reason so many new bird species were observed by Lewis and Clark was the diversity of habitats their route traversed. As the expedition moved westward from St. Louis, landscapes shifted from eastern forests to the expansive grasslands of the Great Plains.
Upon reaching the Rocky Mountains, coniferous forests and rugged alpine zones provided shelter and food for montane species. West of the Continental Divide, birds of arid shrublands and deserts were noted before reaching the mighty Pacific Coast and Columbia River.
Each habitat type presented new feathered residents unknown to science. The meticulous cataloging by Lewis and Clark revealed much about how America’s avifauna varies across the continent’s ecological gradients.
Here is an overview of some notable habitat zones encountered during the expedition, and birds typically found in each:
Eastern Deciduous Forests
- Habitat: Mature forests of oaks, maples, hickories, and other hardwoods. Understory of shrubs and spring wildflowers.
- Example species: Wild Turkey, Red-headed Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse
Tallgrass Prairie
- Habitat: Grasses up to 10 feet tall with scattered wildflowers, grazed by bison herds.
- Example species: Western Meadowlark, Grasshopper Sparrow, Greater Prairie Chicken, Dickcissel
Riparian Woodlands
- Habitat: Corridors of cottonwoods, willows, and other deciduous trees along rivers and streams.
- Example species: Bullock’s Oriole, Warbling Vireo, Yellow Warbler, American Dipper
Coniferous Forests
- Habitat: Tall evergreen trees including pines, firs, spruces, and larches.
- Example species: Red Crossbill, Spotted Owl, Williamson’s Sapsucker, Clark’s Nutcracker
Subalpine Zones
- Habitat: High mountain meadows, shrublands, rockfields, and scattered conifer groves.
- Example species: American Pipit, Gray-crowned Rosy Finch, Pine Grosbeak, Dusky Grouse
Interior Chaparral & Sagebrush
- Habitat: Arid shrublands dominated by rabbitbrush, sagebrush, chaparral, junipers.
- Example species: Sage Thrasher, Black-throated Sparrow, Pinyon Jay, Sage Grouse
As demonstrated by this list, the journey exposed Lewis and Clark to an incredibly wide array of ecological communities and their avifaunas. Documenting these habitats from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean was a landmark scientific achievement.
Significance of Bird Observations to Lewis & Clark
Birds served important functions for the Lewis and Clark expedition beyond scientific discovery. Avian observations assisted the team with navigation and sustenance while providing much-needed moments of beauty and levity during the long journey.
As the explorers moved across unfamiliar terrain, sightings of certain birds provided helpful clues about nearby geography. Spotting seabirds like gulls could signify proximity to a major river or ocean. Observing prairie specialists hinted the landscape would be opening up from forest to plains. Identifying montane species indicated ascending mountain slopes.
Beyond navigation, birds of course provided a food source. Lewis and Clark and their men regularly hunted grouse, wild turkeys, ducks, and other game birds to supplement their rations. Careful plucking and cooking made even small songbirds palatable.
The beauty and antics of birds also offered brief entertainment and respite from the hardships of western exploration. Many journal entries describe colorful birdsong enlivening the atmosphere. A chickadee fluttering through camp, or exotic rooster-like displays of prairie chickens restored spirits.
Lewis called the Western Meadowlark’s song “the most melodious wild music I ever heard.” Observing wildlife amid the journey’s daily rigors provided simple but meaningful moments of fascination, joy, and tranquility.
Challenges of Identifying Species
While Lewis and Clark excelled in documenting many new bird species, identifying unfamiliar birds posed challenges. Lacking field guides or other reference materials, the explorers had to rely on visual impressions and memories of East Coast species.
In some cases, they compared a new bird to a familiar one back home, even if not closely related. Occasionally this led to inaccurate identifications. For example, Lewis initially theorized the magpie was a type of crow, while Clark mistook a violet-green swallow for a purple martin.
The explorers also possessed limited taxidermy skills for properly preserving collected specimens. Field notes were vital for fleshing out details that deteriorated in poorly processed skins. Lewis lamented losing color notes and markings as specimens became faded and tattered.
Transporting many specimens across thousands of rugged miles also took a toll. Given these limitations, it is remarkable how many accurate new species accounts Lewis and Clark managed to assemble. Their pioneering ornithology laid the groundwork for more refined studies to follow.
Influence on Future Generations of Naturalists
The zoological achievements of Lewis and Clark went on to inspire 19th and 20th century naturalists who advanced American ornithology. Following in their footsteps, scientists and artists ventured west to discover new species and illustrated their beauty as John James Audubon had done for eastern birds.
Major ornithological contributions came from the likes of Alexander Wilson, John Kirk Townsend, J.J. and Thomas Lincoln Audubon, Elliott Coues, Charles Bendire, and Edward Forbush. Species named for early naturalists include Townsend’s Solitaire, Kirkland’s Warbler, Bendire’s Thrasher, and many more.
These pioneers often endured harsh conditions like Lewis and Clark to further illuminate North American avifauna. New species were documented in remote mountain ranges, southwestern deserts, Pacific coastlines, and the Alaska wilderness.
Many important publications emerged on western birdlife, including Coues’ Key to North American Birds (1872), Bendire’s Life Histories of North American Birds (1895), and Forbush’s A Natural History of American Birds (1929).
Such field guides and life histories built upon Lewis and Clark’s pioneering spirit. They expanded knowledge of birds initially recorded during America’s great voyage of western discovery.
Conclusion
The famous 1804-1806 expedition of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark was the first thorough biological survey of the American West. Among their groundbreaking zoological discoveries were dozens of previously undescribed bird species.
Two avian highlights were the Western Meadowlark with its melodious song echoing across the prairies, and the uniquely insect-foraging Lewis’s Woodpecker of pine forests. Lewis and Clark’s detailed descriptions and specimens allowed these birds and many others to be formally documented by science.
The diverse habitats encountered, from eastern hardwood forests to the Pacific coast, introduced a spectacular array of birds over the expedition’s long route. Careful notes on appearances, songs, nests, and behaviors provided an invaluable foundation for future American ornithology.
Despite challenges in identifying unfamiliar species, Lewis and Clark made brilliant observations that inspired generations of naturalists. Their pioneering zoological work remains a landmark in the annals of both western exploration and wildlife biology.
