The Horned Lark is the only lark native to North America. It is widespread from the Arctic to Mexico, but the southern subspecies do not migrate (Elphick et al. 2001). This species will live in flocks during most seasons (Elphick et al. 2001), and is most often found in open country or barren grounds. The Horned Lark is regularly seen in Tennessee and has been known to breed in the state (Tennessee Ornithological Society 2006).

Species Description:

Length: 7 in (19 cm) (Kaufman 2000).

Physical characteristics: Males have black on upper chest and on head; black horns may be hard to see. The lores are black, which extend down at the eye. It has a white eyebrow stripe. The throat may vary from yellow to white, while the back of the head is a light brown. Upperparts are light brown with darker mottling. The underparts are whitish with light brown marking on breast. Females lack the intense black markings, but do have faded marks. Juveniles are also duller, but appear more spotty and streaky.

Voice: The song is a 'weak, tinkling or twittering' given in flight. The call is a 'thin, ssee-tilee' (Kaufman 2000).

Breeding habitat:
Breeds in open country, such as grasslands, barren ground, agricultural areas, and tundra (Ehrlich et al. 1988).

Mating system:
Monogamous. During courtship the male will fly up to 800?, then circle and dive down with wings folded in. The male will prance with his horns erect and wings slouched (Ehrlich et al. 1988).

Nest:
The nest is a shallow depression on the ground, made by the female. It is lined with roots, grasses and hair. The rim of the nest is made of chunks of dirt and/or small rocks (Ehrlich et al. 1988).

Eggs:
The eggs may be gray or green and marked heavily with small brown spots, 0.8? (22 mm). Typically, three to four eggs are laid in a clutch and pairs will only brood once a year (Ehrlich et al. 1988).

Chick development:
The female incubates the eggs for 11-12 days. The young are born altricial and both parents share responsibilities in tending to the young. Hatchlings will fledge in 9-12 days (Ehrlich et al. 1988).

Diet:
It feeds on seeds and insects that can be picked up off the ground. It may occasionally feed on snails as well (Ehrlich et al. 1988).

Conservation Biology:
The Horned Lark has declined in the northern Midwest and in California due at least in part to pesticide poison (Elphick et al. 2001). Numbers have been declining in most of its range (Cornell Lab of Ornithology 2003).

Special Protection Status:
Rangewide: None.

Regional Protection:
In Tennessee, this species is ranked as S4, which means it is widespread and abundant, but is of long-term concern (Withers et al. 2004).

Breeding: Breeds across all of North American, except some of the southern United States. It also breeds in Canada, Mexico, and northern parts of Asia (Utah Division of Wildlife Resources 2006).

Winter: Throughout North America, though not extending as far north in winter, and into Latin America.

An occasional winter resident, typically found in Cades Cove (Alsop 2003). Sightings in other areas would be very rare, due to habitat preference, but they have been sighted at Silers Bald, Laurel Creek, Park Headquarters, and Clingman?s Dome parking lot (Stupka 1963).

References:

Alsop, F. J. III. 1991. Birds Of The Smokies. Great Smoky Mountains History Association, Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Beason, R. C. 1995. Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris). In The Birds of North America, No. 195 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and The American Ornithologists? Union, Washington, D.C.

Cornell Lab of Ornithology. 2003. Available at All About Birds: Horned Lark. Accessed on May 15, 2006.

Ehrlich, P. R., D. S. Dobkin, and D. Wheye. 1988. The Birder?s Handbook: A Field Guide to the Natural History of North American Birds. Simon and Schuster, Inc. New York.

Kaufman, K. 2000. Birds of North America. Hillstar Editions L. C. New York.

LeGrand, H. E. and Hall, S. P., compilers. 1999. Natural Heritage Program List of the Rare Animals of North Carolina. North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, Division of Parks and Recreation, North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Reso

Stupka, A. 1963. Notes on the Birds of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, TN.

Tennessee Ornithological Society. 2006. Available at The Official Checklist of the Birds of Tennessee. Accessed on May 15, 2006.

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. 2006. Available at Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Accessed on June 17, 2006.

Withers, D. I., K. Condict, and R. McCoy. 2004. A Guide to the Rare Animals of Tennessee. Division of Natural Heritage, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.