The Shore Lark (Eremophila alpestris), called the Horned Lark in North
America, breeds across much of North America from the high Arctic south to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, northernmost Europe and Asia and in the mountains of southeast Europe. There is also an isolated population on a plateau in
Colombia. It is mainly resident in the south of its range, but northern populations of this
passerine bird are migratory, moving further south in winter.
This is a bird of open ground. In Eurasia it breeds above the tree line in mountains and the far north. In most of Europe, it
is most often seen on seashore flats in winter, leading to the European name. In America, where there are no other larks to
compete with, it's also found on farmland, on prairies, in deserts, on golf courses and airports, and the like.
Unlike most other larks, this is a distinctive-looking species on the ground, mainly brown-grey
above and pale below, with a striking black and yellow face pattern. The summer male has black "horns", which give this species
its American name. America has a number of races distinguished by the face pattern and back color of males, especially in summer.
The southern European mountain race Eremophila alpestris penicillata is greyer above, and the yellow of the face pattern
is replaced with white.
Vocalizations are high-pitched, lisping or tinkling, and weak. The song, given in flight as is common among larks, consists of
a few chips followed by a warbling, ascending trill.
The nest is on the ground, with 2-5 eggs being laid. Food is seeds supplemented with insects in the breeding season.
References
- BirdLife International (2004). Eremophila alpestris. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry
includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- Steve N. G. Howell and Sophie Webb (1994). A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and
Northern Central America. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-854012-4.
- Perrins, Christopher (ed.) (2003).
Firefly Encyclopedia of Birds. Firefly Books. ISBN 1-55297-777-3.
- Sibley, David (2000). The Sibley Guide
to Birds. Knopf Publishing Group. ISBN 0-679-45122-6.
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