This rare visitor to the Ottawa area singing his heart out perched on a fence post, its song a very loud one. It is more "flute-like and warbled" compared with the "simple, whistled call of the eastern meadowlark" which can be heard at the same location. From Ottawa, take the 417 west to the Panmure exit. Turn left/west and drive to the intersection of Upper Dwyer Hill Road which is in the community of Panmure. Check the fields across the road from the produce stand and further up along the same road. The western meadowlark has also been seen feeding in the field behind the produce stand and singing on top of the hydro pole in front of same stand.

Although easily distingusihed by its song, one of the identifying field marks denoting western meadowlark is the malard region where the yellow colouring extends past the throat. The area behind the base of the lower mandible (just behind the yellow throat) is mostly white in the eastern meadowlark. Some differences between the eastern and western meadowlark field marks can be seen here including great comparison photos of the malar area: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/crows/wmeadowlrk.htm