Bird Identification: CLOSED: Meadowlark and Shorebirds, 1 by P_Edens

P_Edens wrote:
I am attempting to make a bird list for 2012 (inspired by Resin's thread). I've never done a list before. I want to make sure I don't misidentify anything on the list, so I'll be posting a few photos for ID help as I go through the ones I've taken this year.

These were taken on January 3, 2012 at Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge, near Galveston, Texas.

Is it possible to tell if the Meadowlark is Eastern or Western? The Eastern is in the area year-round, but the Western only winters in this area.