The greatest areas of grasslands occur in the prairie regions of the Midwest and west. In the East, there are two types of grasslands; the agricultural grasslands, and old fields or relic grasslands.

Agricultural Grasslands:

These grasslands are areas where grass is mowed and used for grazing. When the grassland is cut for hay, it is called a Meadow and if the area is used for grazing, it is called a Pasture. Meadows remain green, if cut, through summer and fall and consists of grasses such as Kentucky Bluegrass, Timothy, Orchard Grass, and Foxtail Barley while pastures are a rich green color, short and contain a number of weeds. Flowers are also visible in late spring through fall in meadows.

There are grassland birds everywhere in North America, but in the East, the fields attract Eastern Meadowlarks, Ring-necked Pheasants, Vesper Sparrows, Bobolinks, Red-winged Blackbirds, Grasshopper Sparrows and other sparrows. Short-eared Owls and Northern Harriers can be found hunting for food over agricultural land and they are both ground nesters in the grasslands.

When mowing for hay it is a hazard to the grassland species. These areas are mowed in early summer at the peak of the breeding season which can destroy the nests, chicks and adults. Biologists have noted that this is the prime reason for the decline of Ring-necked Pheasants and grass-nesting songbirds.

Old Fields/Relic Grasslands

When agricultural grasslands are not used, ceasing of mowing and grazing stop, the areas become old fields where the other grasses such as Crabgrass and Witch Grass, weeds and shrubs take over and will become forests if undisturbed. Eventually, the grasses are replaced by Redcedar, Loblolly Pine, Black Cherry and spruces and pines if a seed source is nearby. Relic Grasslands are scattered small pockets of old fields that have resisted the old field vegetation pattern. Relic Grasslands contain many species of flowers, trees, shrubs and mainly supports Broom Sedge.

These areas are important for the birds. The beginning of shrub growth provides food sources, such as berries, and a place for nesting concealed from predators.

Birds of Eastern Grasslands
(Not all birds are listed)

Birds	Breeding/Nesting Facts
American Goldfinch	Breeds May-July. Nest in tree or shrub or tall weeds near water.
American Kestrel	Breeds May-July. Nest in tree or shrub or tall weeds near water.
American Tree Sparrow	Breeds early June and ends late July. Nest in corse grass and weeds.
Bobolink	Breeding begins mid May. Nest on ground in small hollow.
Common Nighthawk	Late March to early June. Nest on ground.
Eastern Bluebird	Breeds mid March to early April. Nest in cavity of tree, nestbox or post.
Eastern Meadowlark	Begins late March to early May. Nest on ground concealed by tall grasses.
Field Sparrow	Late April through late July. Nest in overgrown low shrubs, weeds and grasses.
Henslow's Sparrow	Mid to late May. Nest in grasses and well concealed.
Horned Lark	Early March to mid June. Nest on ground in small hollow.
Loggerhead Shrike	Mid February to late April. Nest in shrub or low tree.
Northern Bobwhite	Mid March to late May. Nest on ground in low vegetation.
Northern Harrier	Mid March to mid May. Nest on ground in tall grasses or shrubs.
Red-winged Blackbird	Late March to late May and ends early August. Nest in shrubs and tall vegetation.
Ring-necked Pheasant	Mid April to early May. Nest on ground among tall vegetation.
Savannah Sparrow	Mid March through early June. Nest on ground in a small hollow.

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