{"id":1601,"date":"2010-12-10T08:49:52","date_gmt":"2010-12-10T15:49:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=1601"},"modified":"2025-12-11T15:29:24","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T21:29:24","slug":"western-meadowlark-on-a-cold-utah-morning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2010\/12\/10\/western-meadowlark-on-a-cold-utah-morning\/","title":{"rendered":"Western Meadowlark On A Cold Utah Morning"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"VeryVery cold Western Meadowlark – D200, f9, 1\/750, ISO 400, -0.3 EV, 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Last week after a fresh snow had fallen I headed out to a local wetlands to see if I could find any birds to photograph, the temperatures were in the low teens and that can sometimes make birds “sticky”.<\/p>\n

Not too long after I had gotten to my location I spotted a Western Meadowlark hunkered down on a rock trying to warm up with the rays of the rising sun.<\/p>\n

\"WesternWestern Meadowlark in freezing temps – D200, f7.1, 1\/2000, ISO 250, -0.3 EV, 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

With the cold night temperatures there was hoar frost covering the vegetation and trees and ice particles clinging to the tail of this western meadowlark along with bits of grass seed heads that froze into the ice.<\/p>\n

Photographing in the snow reminds me of how the sugar sands of Florida’s beaches would bounce the light up from the ground and illuminate the undersides of the shorebirds I photographed there.<\/p>\n

With the brightness of snow I watch my EV compensation carefully, it is easy to blow out the whites in the snow and the lights in\u00a0a bird’s plumage. Here my setting of -0.3 helped to control the exposure of the snow.<\/p>\n

\"WesternWestern Meadowlark pulling ice off of its tail – D200, f7.1, 1\/750, ISO 250, 0.0 EV, 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

As the sun rose the meadowlarks became a bit more active. This meadowlark had icy clumps on the tip of its tail and was removing it by tugging on the ice with it’s bill.<\/p>\n

I imagine it might be difficult for them to fly until they knock the ice particles off.<\/p>\n

\"WesternWestern Meadowlark perched on a snow covered rock – D200, f7.1, 1\/1250, ISO 250, 0.0 EV, 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I’ve seen other birds with hoar frost on them, Bald Eagles completely coated, the rumps and head of American Kestrels and Northern Harriers, Barn Owls where their vision was obscured by the frost clinging to their facial discs and Ring-necked Pheasants with a light dusting on their backs.<\/p>\n

This may have been the first time I noticed how ice can cling to the tails of Western Meadowlarks. Utah winters can be very rough on the birds.<\/p>\n

\"WesternWestern Meadowlark shaking its feathers – D200, f7.1, 1\/1250, ISO 250, 0.0 EV, 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light <\/span><\/p>\n

As the sun crept higher and the meadowlarks warmed up they fluffed and preened as if they have a routine they start their days with. They also call softly, seemingly to each other.<\/p>\n

The sunlight on the yellows of the western meadowlarks is quite beautiful to see, especially when there is the white of snow in the fore or background.<\/p>\n

\"AlertAlert Western Meadowlark – D200, f7.1, 1\/2000, ISO 250, -0.3 EV, 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I had a wonderful time photographing and observing these Western Meadowlarks<\/span><\/a> in the early morning light. \u00a0I feel like I learned something new about this species, that is always a good thing when it comes to bird photography.<\/p>\n

I’m glad I noticed the small form of the first meadowlark hunkered down on the rocks. Someone less observant may have missed a golden opportunity with these birds.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a><\/span> to see more of my Western Meadowlark photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Not too long after I had gotten to my location I spotted a Western Meadowlark hunkered down on a rock trying to warm up with the rays of the rising sun.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":165564,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1022,697,26,371],"tags":[4004,5795,3983,4201,4064,4060,4094,4824,4825,4921,4050,4061,4308,4095,373],"class_list":["post-1601","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-davis-county-utah","category-farmington-bay-wma","category-utah","category-western-meadowlarks","tag-adult","tag-cold","tag-frost","tag-hoar-frost","tag-ice","tag-icterids","tag-marsh","tag-meadowlark","tag-meadowlarks","tag-rock","tag-snow","tag-sturnella-neglecta","tag-western-meadowlark","tag-wetlands","tag-winter"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/western-meadowlark-mia-mcpherson-shaking-6310.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-pP","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3993,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/01\/13\/friday-photos-horned-lark-and-western-meadowlark\/","url_meta":{"origin":1601,"position":0},"title":"Friday Photos ~ Horned Lark and Western Meadowlark","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 13, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Horned Larks and Western Meadowlarks are birds that I enjoy photographing all year long in Utah and yesterday they gave me some wonderful opportunities.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta), Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/western-meadowlark-mia-mcpherson-6550.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/western-meadowlark-mia-mcpherson-6550.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/western-meadowlark-mia-mcpherson-6550.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/western-meadowlark-mia-mcpherson-6550.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":24512,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2015\/05\/24\/a-juvenile-western-meadowlark-on-the-shore-of-the-great-salt-lake\/","url_meta":{"origin":1601,"position":1},"title":"Juvenile Western Meadowlark and the Great Salt Lake","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 24, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"I have already seen Sage Thrasher chicks on Antelope Island State Park and I suspect it won't be long before I see juvenile Western Meadowlarks learning how to fly and feed on their own.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State 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Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/western-meadowlark-fluffy-mia-mcpherson-3837.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/western-meadowlark-fluffy-mia-mcpherson-3837.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/western-meadowlark-fluffy-mia-mcpherson-3837.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/western-meadowlark-fluffy-mia-mcpherson-3837.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":18522,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2015\/01\/12\/its-a-hard-knock-life-western-meadowlark\/","url_meta":{"origin":1601,"position":3},"title":"Its a Hard Knock Life – Western Meadowlark","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 12, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"This Western meadowlark image was taken January 2nd on Antelope Island after a snow fall and it made me think of how hard life can be for these birds.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Western Meadowlark fluffed up from the cold in the snow on Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/western-meadowlark-snow-mia-mcpherson-1444.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/western-meadowlark-snow-mia-mcpherson-1444.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/western-meadowlark-snow-mia-mcpherson-1444.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/western-meadowlark-snow-mia-mcpherson-1444.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4415,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/02\/16\/western-meadowlarks-and-spring\/","url_meta":{"origin":1601,"position":4},"title":"Western Meadowlarks And Spring","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"February 16, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Tis the season of changes, for a bit it acts like winter and soon switches to act like spring. . The flute like call of Western Meadowlarks is a sound I associate with spring and lately I have been hearing them quite often.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Western Meadowlark on a boulder with the Great Salt Lake in the background, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/western-meadowlark-mia-mcpherson-3250.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/western-meadowlark-mia-mcpherson-3250.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/western-meadowlark-mia-mcpherson-3250.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/western-meadowlark-mia-mcpherson-3250.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":115320,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/08\/21\/kamas-valley-western-meadowlark-with-a-grasshopper\/","url_meta":{"origin":1601,"position":5},"title":"Kamas Valley Western Meadowlark With A Grasshopper","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 21, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The first bird I photographed last week from the side of the road in the Kamas Valley was this scruffy Western Meadowlark with a grasshopper.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Western Meadowlark with a grasshopper, Kamas Valley, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/western-meadowlark-grasshopper-messy-mia-mcpherson-7791.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/western-meadowlark-grasshopper-messy-mia-mcpherson-7791.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/western-meadowlark-grasshopper-messy-mia-mcpherson-7791.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/western-meadowlark-grasshopper-messy-mia-mcpherson-7791.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1601","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1601"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1601\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/165564"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1601"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1601"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1601"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}