Horned Lark

Eremophila alpestris

Horned Larks are well adapted to Missouri's farmlands. They are especially prevalent on well-drained, flat, treeless terrain within habitats that range from short grass to exposed soil (Peterjohn and Rice 1991). They place their nests in closely-grazed pastures, crop stubble and even plowed fields. Occasionally, they occupy more rolling terrain and short-grass habitats in cities such as airfields, golf courses, parks and large disturbed areas (Peterjohn and Rice 1991).

Code Frequency

Horned Larks are easily detected by their jingling songs and, in the proper season, by their impressive courtship flights. They are our earliest nesting passerine. Because most of the Atlasing field effort was initiated after the onset of the breeding season, potential breeding evidences may have been missed. Additionally, although nests are often easy to find because of the open, sparse cover in which they are built, Atlasers may have been reluctant to enter pastureland and other farm fields. Therefore, Horned Larks likely nested in most blocks in which breeding evidence was found.

Average Number of Birds / 100 stops

Distribution

Abundance

Abundance information available from Miniroutes and Breeding Bird Surveys confirmed that greater numbers of Horned Larks occurred within the Mississippi Lowlands, Big Rivers and Glaciated Plains natural divisions than other natural divisions. Horned Larks were essentially absent from the eastern Ozarks and along the southern border of the state, except for the Mississippi Lowlands.

Phenology

Horned Larks are found in appropriate breeding habitats throughout the year, facilitating the early initiation of breeding when conditions become suitable. In Ohio, males will perform their aerial courtship displays during warm days in January and nesting activities may begin during the latter half of February (Peterjohn and Rice 1991). Early Atlas dates for a nest with Eggs: and a bird seen carrying food for young are likely typical for the first brood. Some pairs may nest twice or even three times a year (Peterjohn and Rice 1991). Breeding evidence from late July and August may have involved a second or third brood.

Notes

Although Ehrlich et al. (1988) described Horned Larks as uncommon Brown-headed Cowbird hosts, no evidence of Brown-headed Cowbird brood parasitism was discovered during this project. However, nest contents were observed in only three blocks.

Breeding Evidence

Reported in 664 (55.0%) of 1,207 blocks

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