General

Lark Sparrow: Medium-sized sparrow with streaked, gray-brown upperparts and buff underparts with black breast spot. Head has black, white, and chestnut-brown stripes. Tail is long and black with white edges. Sexes are similar. Juvenile is duller and has streaked breast.

Range and Habitat

Lark Sparrow: Breeds from British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and northern Minnesota, south to California, northern Mexico, Louisiana, and Alabama. Spends winters from southern California to Florida and southward. Preferred habitats include grasslands, semi-open scrublands, agricultural areas, sagebrush and pinyon-juniper woodlands in lowlands and foothills.

Breeding and Nesting

Lark Sparrow: Three to six white to pale gray eggs marked with brown and black are laid on the ground or low in a bush or tree in a bulky cup nest made of sticks, grass, and forbs, and lined with rootlets and grass. Incubation ranges from 11 to 12 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Lark Sparrow: Eats seeds, grasshoppers, and other insects; forages on the ground and low in trees and shrubs, usually in flocks, even during breeding season.

Readily Eats

Safflower, Apple Slices, Suet, Millet, Peanut Kernels, Fruit

Vocalization

Lark Sparrow: Song is a long, pleasant, bubbling melody that consists of short trills, buzzes, pauses, and clear notes. Call is a metallic "tik", given in flight.

Similar Species

Lark Sparrow: None in range.