General

Horned Lark: Medium-sized lark with pale or dark brown upperparts and white underparts. Face and throat are pale yellow to white and mask, cap, and ear tufts are black. Tail is dark with white edges. Sexes are similar. Juvenile has white-spotted brown upperparts, head and face, white eyebrow, no ear tufts, and white underparts with faintly spotted breast.

Range and Habitat

Horned Lark: Breeds throughout Alaska and the Canadian Arctic, coastal regions of Canada, and south throughout most of the U.S. Spends winters from southern Canada southward throughout the U.S. and into northern and central Mexico; also found in Eurasia. Preferred habitats include plains, fields, airports, and beaches.

Breeding and Nesting

Horned Lark: Two to five gray or green eggs spotted with brown are laid in a nest made of grass lined with feathers and soft materials and built in a shallow depression, natural or dug by the female. Incubation ranges from 11 to 12 days and is carried out mostly by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Horned Lark: Eats mostly seeds, insects, and small mollusks; forages in agricultural areas, often standing and walking on roadways.

Vocalization

Horned Lark: Sings a series of bell-like, tinkling notes "pit-wee,pit-wee,pit-wee", given from ground or in high circling flight. Call is a "tsee-tete" or "zeet."

Similar Species

Horned Lark: American Pipit has gray upperparts, brown-streaked white underparts, dark gray-brown tail with white outer tail feathers, and lacks horns and black bib.