Eremophila alpestris
The Horned Lark, Eremophila alpestris, is a remarkably widespread and resilient songbird, distinguished by its subtle yet striking appearance. Measuring approximately 16-20 cm (6.3-7.9 inches) in length with a wingspan of 31-36 cm (12-14 inches) and weighing 28-40 grams (1.0-1.4 oz), it boasts a sandy brown body, a black bib, black facial markings, and distinctive short, erectile feather tufts on its head, resembling horns, which are most prominent in males. Its face can be white or yellow de...
This species primarily inhabits open, treeless landscapes such as short-grass prairies, deserts, tundra, high alpine meadows, agricultural fields, and barren ground. It can be found from sea level to over 4,000 meters in elevation.
The Horned Lark's diet consists primarily of insects (beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars) during the breeding season and various seeds (grasses, weeds) during winter. They forage almost exclusively on the ground.
Horned Larks are diurnal, spending their days actively foraging and roosting on the ground, often in small, sheltered depressions. Their foraging strategy involves walking or running across the ground, gleaning insects and seeds directly from the surface or probing shallowly. Males establish terr...
The Horned Lark boasts an incredibly extensive circumpolar breeding range across the Northern Hemisphere, encompassing much of North America, Europe, and Asia, as well as parts of North Africa. In North America, it breeds from Alaska and northern Canada south throughout the Great Plains, Great Ba...
Least Concern
- The Horned Lark is the only true lark (family Alaudidae) native to the Americas, making it a unique representative of its family in the New World. - Its common name comes from the small, erectile feather tufts on its head, which resemble tiny horns, particularly prominent in displaying males. -...