Birds
Horned Lark
Eremophila alpestris · also called shore lark
Across a bare winter field, a mixed flock of horned larks forages alongside longspurs and snow buntings, the larks’ small dark feather tufts and bold black facial mask setting them apart from their travelling companions even in a crowd this large.
Overview
The horned lark, Eremophila alpestris, is the only true lark species native to North America, found across open grassland, tundra, and agricultural habitat on the continent as well as separate populations in Europe and Asia. Its small feather-tuft horns and habit of forming large mixed winter flocks make it one of the more recognisable ground-dwelling songbirds of open country.
The one true lark in a continent full of impostors
While North America is full of birds informally called larks, meadowlarks chief among them, the horned lark is the genuine article, the sole representative of the true lark family to have naturally established itself on the continent at all.
Status
Least Concern — widespread across suitable open habitat, though experiencing gradual regional declines linked to changing agricultural land use.
Horned Lark: common questions
Is the horned lark related to the meadowlark?
No, despite the similar-sounding name, the horned lark is a true member of the lark family, Alaudidae, while the meadowlark belongs to an entirely unrelated New World family, the icterids, and was given its name by settlers simply because it reminded them of true larks back in Europe rather than because of any close relationship.
What are the horns on a horned lark's head?
A horned lark carries small, dark feather tufts on the head, more prominent in males, that resemble tiny horns and give the species its common name, though the tufts are made entirely of feathers rather than any bony or keratinous structure.
Why does the horned lark gather in such large winter flocks?
Outside the breeding season, horned larks often join large mixed flocks alongside longspurs and snow buntings, a social strategy that likely improves both foraging efficiency and predator detection across the open winter fields the species favours, where individual birds would otherwise be more exposed.
Where does the horned lark live?
The horned lark is native to open grassland, tundra, and agricultural habitat across North America, and separate populations also occur across parts of Europe and Asia, making it one of the most widely distributed lark species despite being the only one found naturally in North America.