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Breeding Range. (Fig. 148). Common throughout the state.

Breeding Habitat. High-density populations occur in mixed-grass prairie, tall-grass prairie, wet-meadow zones of wetlands, domestic haylands (including alfalfa and domestic grasses), retired cropland (including fields of smooth brome, intermediate wheatgrass, crested wheatgrass, and sweetclover), and weedy field borders and roadsides. Sparse populations also are found in short-grass prairie and sage prairie.

Nesting. Breeding season: Late March to early August; peak, early May to mid-July. The establishment of breeding territories usually begins in late March or early April. Extreme egg dates (35 nests): May 5 [1972] in Stutsman County (D. J. Nilson) to July 16 [1974] in Foster County (RES). Extreme nestling dates (8 nests): May 17 [1969] in Logan County to July 23 [1962] in Stutsman County (RES). Extreme dates of dependent young out of the nest (10 records): June 8 [1965] in Kidder County to August 1 [1962] in Stutsman County (RES).

Descriptions of 28 nesting sites indicate that 14 nests were situated in mixed-grass prairie, 7 in wet-meadow zones of natural ponds and lakes, 2 in short-grass prairie, 2 in sage prairie (mixture of black sage, silver sage and short-grass prairie), 2 in tame hayland, and 1 in tall-grass prairie.

Indicated clutch size (18 nests): 4 to 7 eggs; mean, 5.3 eggs.

Figure 148. Breeding Range of Western Meadowlark.