"Western has brownish cheek and paler, less contrasting eye-line." (The Sibley Guide to Birds of Eastern North America, p. 398)

"Eastern Meadowlark has malar area mostly white; blacker lateral crown stripes ..." (The Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America, p. 720)

The Western Meadowlark has a darker cheek,and the eyestripe is light against that dark. The Eastern Meadowlark's has a lighter cheek and the eyestripe is dark against that light.

There is also a contrast in the color on the lores.

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