Chondestes grammacus

Breeding habitat includes various open situations with scattered bushes and trees: shortgrass, mixed-grass, and tallgrass prairie with a shrub component and sparse litter; parkland; sandhills; barrens; oldfields; cultivated fields; shrub thickets; shrubsteppe (native and altered); woodland edges; shelterbelts; orchards, parks; riparian areas; brushy pastures; overgrazed pastures; and savanna, (Rand 1948, Baepler 1968, Newman 1970, Rising 1974, Stewart 1975, Salt and Salt 1976, Wiens and Rotenberry 1981, Faanes 1983, Dinsmore et al. 1984, Kahl et al. 1985, Walley 1985, Sample 1989, Wershler et al. 1991, Bock and Bock 1992, Cable et al. 1992, Kaspari and Joern 1993, Zimmerman 1993, Bock et al. 1995, Faanes and Lingle 1995, Best et al. 1997, Prescott 1997, AOU 1998, Martin and Parrish 2000).

In Nevada, this species preferred areas of crested wheatgrass that were invaded by sagebrush over areas dominated solely by either sagebrush or wheatgrass; abundance was negatively correlated with sagebrush density (McAdoo et al. 1989). In Arizona, inhabited areas characterized by mean habitat values of 38 percent bare ground, 54 percent grass cover, 7 percent forb cover, less than 2 percent canopy cover, 13 centimeter grass height, and 0.068 shrubs per square meter; individuals usually were flushed near mesquite (Bock and Webb 1984).

Nests are either on the ground or close to the ground (most often within 4 meters) in woody vegetation (Ely 1957, Baepler 1968, McNair 1985). Ground nests may be located in areas of sparse ground cover such as those areas associated with burning, moderate to heavy grazing, or poor or eroded soils (Fitch 1958, Graber and Graber 1963, Baepler 1968, Kahl et al. 1985, Walley 1985, Zimmerman 1993, Prescott 1997), or in idle fields, lawns, and cemeteries (Baepler 1968, Salt and Salt 1976, Walley 1985). Ground nests often are placed at the base of a plant (Ely 1957, Baepler 1968, Rising 1974). In Montana, nests always were located under sagebrush (Cameron 1908). Above-ground nests may be located in various species of shrubs, saplings, and small trees (Baepler 1968, Newman 1970, McNair 1985). This species sometimes uses old nests of other birds (e.g., northern mockingbird, thrasher).

Nonbreeding habitats include agricultural areas, suburban gardens, oak woodlands, chaparral, and mesquite/acacia grassland (Rising 1996).

Lark sprrows defend small territories around the immediate nest site (Martin and Parrish 2000), 66-248 square meters in extent (n=3, Fitch 1958).

This species may be seen in flocks, especially during the winter.

Clutch initiation peaks in early May in the south, early June in the north (McNair 1985). Clutch size is three to six, usually four or five; mean around 4 (McNair 1985). Female incubates 11-12 days (Baepler 1968). Young leave nest typically at 11-12 days, can fly short distances (Baepler 1968, Johnsgard 1979). Individual females often produce two clutches during a single nesting season (Kaspari and Joern 1993). Males may be polygynous (Terres 1980).