How long do meadowlarks live?
The oldest Eastern Meadowlark on record lived to 12.6 years, a record from a wild bird. That is a ceiling, not an average: most wild meadowlarks live only a few years.
- Longest recorded lifespan
- 12.6 years
- Record from
- Wild bird
- Age at first breeding
- About 1 year
- Eggs per clutch
- 2–7 eggs
- Broods per year
- 1–2 per season
- Size
- 7.5–10.2 in, 3.2–5.3 oz
- Rank in family (of species on this site)
- 8 of 14
Record age versus typical age
Longevity records come from birds that were marked and later found again, usually through bird banding, or from birds kept in zoos. They show what a Eastern Meadowlark can survive to, not what most do.
For small birds, the first year is the hardest. Many eggs and nestlings are lost to predators and weather, and young birds that leave the nest still have to learn to find food and avoid hawks and cats. A bird that survives its first winter has a much better chance of living several more years. That is why average lifespans in the wild are short even when the record is long.
Meadowlarks usually start breeding at about 1 year old. Each season a pair lays 2–7 eggs and raises 1–2 per season, with eggs taking 13–16 days to hatch.
How meadowlarks compare with relatives
Oldest recorded ages for other blackbirds on this site.
- Common Grackle23.1 years
- Red-winged Blackbird20 years
- Yellow-headed Blackbird18 years
- Orchard Oriole17.7 years
- Brown-headed Cowbird16.9 years
- Baltimore Oriole14 years
More about meadowlarks
Frequently asked
How long do meadowlarks live?
The longest-lived Eastern Meadowlark on record reached 12.6 years, recorded from a wild bird. Most wild meadowlarks live far shorter lives, because the majority of young birds don't survive their first year.
How old is a Eastern Meadowlark when it first breeds?
Usually about 1 year old.
What is the oldest Eastern Meadowlark ever recorded?
12.6 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.
How many young can a Eastern Meadowlark raise in a year?
Pairs lay 2–7 eggs and raise 1–2 per season.
Source: AnAge, The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources), record quality "acceptable", sample size "small". genomics.senescence.info