Scampering Meadowbird

A small songbird living in a big and dangerous world, the meadowbird knows that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. 

Meadowbirds are ground-dwelling sparrowgulls evolved from the shorebird lineage which includes the most primitive living species, which have persisted little changed over tens of millions of years thanks to a stable niche and an adaptable body plan and behavior. Though generally trending somewhat less smart than more derived, highly social species like chatterravens, birds like this nonetheless survived the end-Pangeacene extinction, lived through the Ultimocene, and survived its end when many smarter animals did not. Now, as the world is warm again, some move inland to new habitats to exploit food resources on the plains.

Several species of meadowbirds live across the world. Their genus comprises strong flyers, and they are often nomadic, but their legs are long and they find all of their food by scurrying over the land, snatching up seeds, insects, and new green buds of plants. Meadowbirds frequently follow herd animals in large flocks, feeding on prey disturbed by bigger footsteps and on seeds knocked loose as the animals graze. They are quick on their feet, often dashing right between thorngrazers and trunkos to get at the choicest morsels, jumping out of the way just seconds before being trodden on. When danger threatens they run into tall grass and slip away undercover in the blink of an eye; if there is nowhere to hide, they crouch to the ground and freeze, letting their greenish plumage hide them in plain sight. 

Meadowbirds nest in single pairs on the ground in grass thickets, and the nest is surprisingly elaborate as a woven basket-like ball; its formation is more symbolic than practical, however, since it is very likely it will be abandoned before the chicks are mature, for reasons soon to be explained; its purpose may be primarily a sort of sexual selection, a creation by the male to attract the female instead of growing bright plumage or singing a pleasant song. Both parents take care of the nest and chicks, and clutches are often very large, with eight or more eggs, and food is often sufficient to feed this many on the productive grasslands of the plains. Yet this is a dangerous world for a small bird, and many animals will eat their eggs and their young, especially small molodonts that live here in droves, and bigger animals can crush their nests inadvertently or eat them up indiscriminately while grazing. Parents are nervous and will abandon the nest if they feel it is insecure, picking up whatever eggs or nestlings they can carry and scurrying away to safer grounds, where they then make only a crude pile of dry grass for the babies to rest in. By the time the babies begin to be able to walk and follow the adults at a few weeks old, the pair is likely to end up with only 2-4 chicks, which is as many as one - if a parent is disturbed while brooding alone - or both parents can usually carry in their wings at one time. Meadowbird parents keep track of all their chicks, recognizing the individuals and taking notice of which are heaviest and most alert; if moving is necessary, they will take their fittest, largest young and leave the weaker ones behind. Though they may return later to see if they are still there once a new nest is established, they are likely to have been predated in that time.