Genie, I have seen meadowlarks many times, and I don't believe I've seen one in a tree. On a fencepost yes, in a field, yes, but never in a tree. Meadowlarks like to stay low and be in open country.

Do you live in a densely forested area, so that there was nowhere for the bird to rest except in a tree?

If you don't, I suspect the bird was something else - a migrant of some kind. Keep looking because it might be something new and wonderful.

I'm just back from California, where we saw avocets, stilts and a curlew - all new and wonderful for us.