Horned Lark

The horned lark (Eremophila alpestris) is a small, ground‑dwelling songbird found across the Northern Hemisphere, and it’s the only native lark species in North America. Its name comes from the tiny black feather tufts — the “horns” — that males can raise during displays. Adult males show a striking yellow face, black mask, and a bold black breast band, while females and juveniles are more muted, blending easily into the open landscapes they inhabit. Their soft, tinkling song is often delivered from high overhead as males perform fluttering flight displays early in the breeding season.

This species thrives in wide‑open habitats: prairies, tundra, deserts, beaches, agricultural fields, and barren ground. In winter, horned larks often gather in flocks that walk or run across fields searching for seeds, taking off in swift, twisting flight when disturbed. Their reliance on short vegetation and bare soil makes them one of the earliest nesting birds in many regions. Females build their nests directly on the ground, often adding pebbles or plant fragments for camouflage — a strategy that works surprisingly well in the sparse environments they prefer.

Horned larks are widespread, but many North American populations have declined over the past half‑century, largely due to habitat loss and changes in agricultural practices. Despite this, they remain common in many open landscapes, especially in winter when flocks forage along roadsides and stubble fields — places you’ve explored often in your Indiana birding. Their adaptability has even allowed them to colonize human‑altered habitats such as airfields, where short grass and open ground mimic natural conditions.

sources

All About Birds Cornell Lab of Ornithology – All About Birds: Horned Lark
Wikipedia Wikipedia – Horned lark
Audubon Audubon Field Guide – Horned Lark
Conserve Wil... Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey – Horned Lark
National Par... U.S. National Park Service – Horned Lark


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