Eremophila alpestris
adult
The Horned Lark gets its name from the small black projecting feathers on its head. The sexes are similar overall, although males are more strikingly marked on the face than females. Adults have brown upperparts and whitish underparts with a dark breast band. The head has a black mask, forecrown, and “horns” on the side of the crown; the face is otherwise yellowish. Subspecies variation affects the intensity of color on the face and on the back. Juveniles have speckled upperparts and show a suggestion of the adult’s facial markings. In flight, all birds show pale underwings.
The Horned Lark is a widespread species and present year-round across much of the U.S.A. In winter, populations in the south of the species’ range are swollen by birds that have moved south from northern and Arctic summer breeding grounds to escape the harsh winters. The species spends much of the time feeding unobtrusively on the ground, creeping along with its body held low. It forages for insects in summer but feeds mainly on seeds in winter. It often forms flocks outside the breeding season.
adult
FACT FILE
LENGTH 7–8 in (18–20 cm)
FOOD Insects and seeds
HABITAT Open barren habitats, ranging from tundra to sparse grassland
STATUS Common, northern populations are migratory; more sedentary in south of range
VOICE Song comprises a few rasping chrrt notes, followed by a series of tinkling notes. Flight calls include a thin tsee-titi
