Long-Tailed Meadowlark
Sturnella loyca
About This Species
A grassland songbird of southern South America, from the Patagonian steppe and pampas through to the Falkland Islands, recognised by its bright red throat and breast contrasting with streaky brown upperparts. It perches conspicuously on fence posts, low shrubs or tussocks to sing and forages on the ground for insects and seeds in open, short grassland. Look for it year-round in open pasture and coastal grassland, with display perching most noticeable during the austral spring breeding season.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Scan open grassland from a distance with binoculars rather than walking through it, since ground-nesting grassland birds in this region are easily flushed off eggs or chicks hidden in the grass.
- Wildlife protection rules vary across its Argentine, Chilean and Falkland Islands range, so check local regulations before entering protected grassland or reserve areas.
- Staying on tracks and avoiding areas of dense tussock during the breeding season reduces the risk of trampling nests you cannot see.
LCAvesPasseriformesIcteridae
Seasonal Activity
171,987 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Icteridae
Photo
Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons
CC-BY-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.