Larks · Perching birds
Horned Lark
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Eremophila alpestris
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Voice
Call
How to recognize it
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Slightly larger than a sparrow
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Brown-grey back with dark streaks, pale underparts
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Yellow-white and black patches on the face
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In summer, male with two black feather tufts on the head
About the species
On open ground, the Horned Lark is brown-grey above and pale below, with a black-and-yellow pattern across its face. Its mostly black tail contrasts with the paler body, especially when it takes flight. In summer, males have two black feather tufts on the head, while the face markings may be yellow or white in different populations.
Its thin, high calls can sound like a faint tinkle. The song begins with a few chips and rises into a warbling trill in flight; during courtship, the male circles above a female, folds its wings, then opens them just before reaching the ground.
It breeds in open country, from northern tundra and mountain slopes above the tree line to prairies and other bare landscapes. Seeds and insects make up its main food. Northern populations move south for winter, often toward coasts, while those farther south are mostly resident.
Where to find
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In winter on the flat shores of central Europe, look for the Horned Lark on open ground — it is easier to spot there.
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During the breeding season on mountain slopes above the treeline, listen for a male singing as he circles above a female.
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In the far-northern lichen tundra during the breeding season, scan the bare ground for a female choosing a shallow nest hollow.
