New World Blackbirds (Icteridae)
Long-tailed Meadowlark (Sturnella loyca) - HBW 16, p. 806
French: Sturnelle australe
German: Langschwanzstärling
Spanish: Loica Común
Other common names: Red-breasted Starling, Greater Red-breasted Meadowlark
Taxonomy: Sturnus loyca Molina, 1782, Chile.
Sometimes placed in a separate genus, Pezites, along with S. defilippii and S. bellicosa; formerly treated as conspecific with latter or both. Birds intermediate between nominate race and catamarcana said to occur in W Argentina, and range listed for latter below is tentative; more detailed study required. Geographical variation partly clinal; size appears to increase from N towards S and in Andean highlands. If present species and S. militaris [= Emberiza militaris Linnaeus, 1758] are treated in separate genera, present species reverts to its older sp.. View all taxonomy...
Sometimes placed in a separate genus, Pezites, along with S. defilippii and S. bellicosa; formerly treated as conspecific with latter or both. Birds intermediate between nominate race and catamarcana said to occur in W Argentina, and range listed for latter below is tentative; more detailed study required. Geographical variation partly clinal; size appears to increase from N towards S and in Andean highlands. If present species and S. militaris [= Emberiza militaris Linnaeus, 1758] are treated in separate genera, present species reverts to its older specific epithet, militaris [= Sturnus militaris Linnaeus, 1771], which has priority over loyca; as a result, present species has in some works been known as Sturnella militaris. Four subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- catamarcana (Zotta, 1937) - local in highlands of NW Argentina (Jujuy and Salta S to La Rioja).
- loyca (Molina, 1782) - Chile (S Atacama S to Cape Horn) and Argentina (San Juan, San Luis, Córdoba and Buenos Aires S to Tierra del Fuego).
- obscura Nores & Yzurieta, 1979 - Sierras de Córdoba and San Luis, in C Argentina.
- falklandica (Leverkühn, 1889) - Falkland Is.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
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Male, then female feeding their chicks at the nest and taking away faecal bag Locality New Island, Falkland (Malvinas) Islands (ssp falklandicus)
Laurent Demongin 15 November 2008 4 years ago 53 sec 4.9 -
A male foraging in short grass Locality New Island, Falkland (Malvinas) Islands (ssp falklandicus)
Laurent Demongin 18 October 2007 5 years ago 31 sec 4.8 -
A pair feeding their chicks at the nest Locality New Island, Falkland (Malvinas) Islands (ssp falklandicus)
Laurent Demongin 17 November 2008 4 years ago 58 sec 4.8 -
A female leaving larvae on the ground while looking for another Locality New Island, Falkland (Malvinas) Islands (ssp falklandicus)
Laurent Demongin 17 November 2008 4 years ago 37 sec 4.7 -
A female carrying food and coming to the nest under dense grass Locality New Island, Falkland (Malvinas) Islands (ssp falklandicus)
Laurent Demongin 12 November 2008 4 years ago 35 sec 4.7 -
A bird attacking itself in a car mirror Locality Punta Loma, Chubut Province, Argentina (ssp loyca)
Anna Motis 2 September 2004 7 years ago 38 sec 4.5
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A nest with eggs
Locality New Island, Falkland (Malvinas) Islands (ssp falklandica)
Laurent Demongin 20 November 2009 3 years ago 4.5 -
An adult male perched on a stick
Locality New Island, Falkland (Malvinas) Islands (ssp falklandica)
Laurent Demongin 12 December 2008 4 years ago 4.5 -
Male in breeding plumage
Locality New Island, Falkland (Malvinas) Islands (ssp falklandica)
Laurent Demongin 1 November 2006 4 years ago 4.3 -
Loica Común
Locality Barranca Larga, Catamarca Province, Argentina (ssp catamarcana)
Miguel Andina 11 December 2011 38 weeks ago 4 -
A couple of adults in the grass
Locality Santiago Metropolitan Region, Chile
Max Buchheister 5 November 2011 1 year ago 4 -
A bird perched
Locality Alto Rio Senguer, Chubut Province, Argentina
Roberto Pujana 23 December 2011 49 weeks ago 3.9
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A male singing Locality New Island, Falkland (Malvinas) Islands
(ssp falklandicus)
Laurent Demongin 17 November 2008 3 years ago 3
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