Peruvian Meadowlark (Leistes bellicosus)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Peruvian Meadowlark

Leistes bellicosus (de Filippi, 1847)

21 cmLength58 gWeight

Busiest months: October–November · Most records: Peru, Chile, Ecuador

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: October–November · Most records: Peru, Chile, Ecuador

Peruvian Meadowlark has been recorded at 29 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 4 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Río Lluta – DesembocaduraChile2,036 records
  2. Refugio de Vida Silvestre Los Pantanos de VillaPeru657 records
  3. Refugio de Vida Silvestre Los Pantanos de Villa – Laguna Costera y Playa MarvillaPeru657 records
More places
  1. RN Lomas de LachayPeru520 records
  2. MolinosChile467 records
  3. RE Manglares-Churute – La LagarteraEcuador443 records
  4. ACP ChaparríPeru202 records
  5. Reservorio de TinajonesPeru165 records
  6. Salinas – Lagunas de EcuasalEcuador134 records
  7. Finca MaragrícolaColombia130 records

Countries and regions with the most records

PeruChileEcuadorColombia

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

Questions

How big is the Peruvian Meadowlark?

The Peruvian Meadowlark is about 21 cm long and weighs around 58 g.

Where does the Peruvian Meadowlark live?

Its breeding range: South America: far southwestern Colombia to far northwestern Chile. It is most often recorded in Peru, Chile and Ecuador.

When is the best time to see the Peruvian Meadowlark?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in October and November (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Peruvian Meadowlark endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Peruvian Meadowlark as Least Concern.

What does the Peruvian Meadowlark eat?

Main food: Omnivore.

What family is the Peruvian Meadowlark in?

It belongs to the family Oropendolas, New World Orioles, Blackbirds (Icteridae), order Passerines (Passeriformes).

At a glance

Length
21 cm
Weight
58 g
Habitat
Grassland
Diet
Omnivore
Lifestyle
Active on the ground
Migration
Partial migrant
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
110 mm
Tail
70 mm
Bill
27 mm
Tarsus
34 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

South America: far southwestern Colombia to far northwestern Chile

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Order
Passerines Passeriformes
Genus
Leistes

Other birds in the genus Leistes

Red-breasted MeadowlarkRed-breasted MeadowlarkLeistes militarisWhite-browed MeadowlarkWhite-browed MeadowlarkLeistes superciliarisLong-tailed MeadowlarkLong-tailed MeadowlarkLeistes loycaPampas MeadowlarkPampas MeadowlarkLeistes defilippiiYellow-breasted ChatYellow-breasted ChatIcteria virensYellow-headed BlackbirdYellow-headed BlackbirdXanthocephalus xanthocephalusBobolinkBobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusWestern MeadowlarkWestern MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaEastern MeadowlarkEastern MeadowlarkSturnella magnaChihuahuan MeadowlarkChihuahuan MeadowlarkSturnella lilianae
Peruvian Meadowlark

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Elizabeth Vasquez. ↗

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