South Dakota · Year-round resident

Eastern Meadowlarks in South Dakota

When meadowlarks are present in South Dakota, when they nest, which native South Dakota plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–5b yard.

Blackbirds (Icteridae)Eastern MeadowlarkSturnella magna

Status in South Dakota: Year-round resident
Nesting window: April–July
Broods: 1–2 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 3b–5b

When to expect meadowlarks in South Dakota

Eastern Meadowlarks live in South Dakota all year. Cold, windy winters. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them.

Continental, with prairie east of the Missouri River and the forested Black Hills in the west.

Nesting in South Dakota

Across South Dakota, meadowlarks typically nest from April–July. Plan around that window: March for setup, July for clean-out.

Warm summers with thunderstorms; the Black Hills host western mountain birds.

Eastern Meadowlarks don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as bur oak, black cherry, american elderberry for nest sites.
Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Native South Dakota plants that attract meadowlarks

Of the regional native plants we track for South Dakota, these 8 provide food or cover meadowlarks use:

Bur oak

Quercus macrocarpa · Tree

Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.

Black cherry

Prunus serotina · Tree

Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.

American elderberry

Sambucus canadensis · Shrub

Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.

Wild bergamot

Monarda fistulosa · Perennial

Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.

Black-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta · Perennial

Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.

Common sunflower

Helianthus annuus · Perennial

Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed.

New England aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae · Perennial

Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.

Little bluestem

Schizachyrium scoparium · Perennial

Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.

Feeding meadowlarks through the South Dakota year

Top foods: Cracked corn, Millet (on open ground).
In South Dakota's winter: Cold, windy winters.

Full diet breakdown for meadowlarks · Best feeder for meadowlarks

Frequently asked

Are meadowlarks in South Dakota year-round?

Yes. Eastern Meadowlarks are year-round residents in South Dakota.

When do meadowlarks nest in South Dakota?

Nesting in South Dakota typically runs April–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 2–7 eggs, incubated for 13–16 days.

What native plants attract meadowlarks in South Dakota?

Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, New England aster, Little bluestem are native plants in South Dakota that provide food or cover for meadowlarks.

Other backyard birds in South Dakota

Northern Cardinal Eastern Bluebird Black-capped Chickadee Purple Martin Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren House Finch Ruby-throated Hummingbird Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Red-bellied Woodpecker Northern Flicker Red-headed Woodpecker Red-breasted Nuthatch Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Baltimore Oriole Orchard Oriole Rose-breasted Grosbeak Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Common Redpoll Indigo Bunting Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Eastern Phoebe Chimney Swift Eastern Screech-Owl Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Steller's Jay Black-billed Magpie Canada Jay Mountain Chickadee Pygmy Nuthatch Spotted Towhee Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe White-crowned Sparrow Violet-green Swallow Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Bullock's Oriole Eurasian Collared-Dove American Crow Common Raven Cooper's Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Barred Owl Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Wood Duck Wild Turkey Northern Bobwhite Mallard Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Brown-headed Cowbird Golden-crowned Kinglet Red Crossbill Field Sparrow Gray Catbird Western Tanager Lark Sparrow Hooded Merganser Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Ovenbird Yellow-breasted Chat Red-eyed Vireo Warbling Vireo Eastern Wood-Pewee Least Flycatcher Western Kingbird Cliff Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Eastern Whip-poor-will Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper American Woodcock Green Heron Great Egret Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Red-shouldered Hawk Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Barn Owl Burrowing Owl Savannah Sparrow Harris's Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Snow Bunting Lapland Longspur Horned Lark Dickcissel Blue Grosbeak Common Redpoll Hoary Redpoll White-winged Crossbill Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch Yellow-billed Cuckoo Bobolink Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Rock Pigeon

Sources

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.