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Eremophila alpestris

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Horned Lark

G5Secure Found in 136 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
PSESA Status
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.105501
Element CodeABPAT02010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyAlaudidae
GenusEremophila
USESAPS
COSEWICPS:E
Other Common Names
Alondra Cornuda (ES) Alouette hausse-col (FR) horned lark (EN)
Concept Reference
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
Taxonomic Comments
Composed of two groups: alpestris of North and South America and Eurasia and teleschowi (Przewalski's Lark) of China (AOU 1998). Horned Lark subspecies and patterns of geographic variation are in need of review (see Beason 1995).
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-04-07
Change Date1996-12-02
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Range Extent Comments
BREEDS: northernmost North America south to southern Baja California, southern Mexico, Louisiana, northern Alabama, and North Carolina, and in South America in eastern Andes of Colombia (Cundinamarca and Boyaca). NORTHERN WINTER: southern Canada south through breeding range, and, locally and irregularly to Gulf Coast and Florida. Also occurs in Old World (AOU 1983).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Grassland, tundra, sandy regions, areas with scattered low shrubs, desert playas, grazed pastures, stubble fields, open cultivated areas, and rarely open areas in forest (AOU 1983). Nests in hollow on ground often next to grass tuft or clod of earth or manure.

Ecology

Breeding density 1.3-1.5 individuals/ha in shadscale habitat in eastern Nevada (Medin 1990). Territory size varies with habitat and population density; ranges from means of 3.5 ha in higher latitude heath (Cannings and Threlfall 1981) and 1.6 ha in the agricultural Midwest (Beason and Franks 1974), to a range of 0.3-14 ha in Colorado shorgrass prairie (Boyd 1976).

Reproduction

Egg laying occurs early to mid-June at northern end of range. Clutch size 2-7 (commonly 4). One brood annually at higher latitudes and elevations, 2 or possibly 3 at lower ones. Incubation 10-14 days, by female. Young tended by both parents, leave nest at 9-12 days. No accurate estimates of longevity/generation time; mean time between banding and recovery for birds banded as first-year birds is 2.6 years (Beason 1995).
Terrestrial Habitats
Grassland/herbaceousDesertAlpineTundraPlaya/salt flatCropland/hedgerow
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5B,N5N
ProvinceRankNative
VirginiaS4Yes
MinnesotaSNRB,SNRNYes
ConnecticutS1BYes
MississippiS5B,S5NYes
TexasS5BYes
OregonS5Yes
NevadaS4Yes
MaineS3B,S3NYes
IndianaS5Yes
ArizonaS5Yes
WisconsinS4BYes
KentuckyS4B,S4NYes
MontanaS5Yes
OhioS5Yes
IowaS5B,S5NYes
West VirginiaS2B,S3NYes
ColoradoS5BYes
South DakotaS5B,S5NYes
WashingtonS4B,S4NYes
MissouriSNRYes
New HampshireS3BYes
KansasS5Yes
IllinoisS5Yes
MassachusettsS3B,S4NYes
NebraskaS5Yes
AlabamaS3B,S4NYes
AlaskaS5BYes
GeorgiaS3Yes
North CarolinaS4B,S4NYes
District of ColumbiaS2NYes
Rhode IslandS1BYes
VermontS2B,S5NYes
MichiganS5Yes
TennesseeS4Yes
PennsylvaniaS4B,S4N,S3MYes
New YorkS3BYes
ArkansasS4Yes
New MexicoS5B,S5NYes
South CarolinaS3Yes
Navajo NationS5Yes
DelawareS4B,S5NYes
North DakotaSNRBYes
MarylandS4B,S4NYes
CaliforniaSNRYes
IdahoS5Yes
New JerseyS2B,S3NYes
OklahomaSNRYes
UtahS5Yes
LouisianaS3B,S4NYes
WyomingS5B,S5NYes
CanadaN5B,N5N
ProvinceRankNative
ManitobaS3BYes
Nova ScotiaSHB,S4N,S5MYes
Yukon TerritoryS4BYes
LabradorS4B,SUMYes
NunavutS4BYes
QuebecS3BYes
Island of NewfoundlandS3B,SUMYes
AlbertaS4B,S2NYes
SaskatchewanS4B,S3N,SUMYes
British ColumbiaS4Yes
New BrunswickS1B,S4N,S5MYes
Prince Edward IslandS1B,S4N,S5MYes
OntarioS4Yes
Northwest TerritoriesS4Yes
Roadless Areas (136)
Alaska (2)
AreaForestAcres
Mansfield PeninsulaTongass National Forest54,991
South KruzofTongass National Forest55,193
Arizona (2)
AreaForestAcres
Burro CanyonKaibab National Forest19,928
WhetstoneCoronado National Forest20,728
California (30)
AreaForestAcres
AntimonyLos Padres National Forest40,911
Boundary Peak (CA)Inyo National Forest210,884
CajonSan Bernardino National Forest7,548
CalienteCleveland National Forest5,953
ChannellSequoia National Forest45,429
ChicoSequoia National Forest39,836
City CreekSan Bernardino National Forest9,997
DardanellesEldorado National Forest8,110
Excelsior (CA)Inyo National Forest45,607
Fish CanyonAngeles National Forest29,886
Fox MountainLos Padres National Forest52,072
Garcia MountainLos Padres National Forest7,850
Glass MountainInyo National Forest52,867
Granite PeakSan Bernardino National Forest450
Greenhorn CreekSequoia National Forest28,226
Horse Mdw.Inyo National Forest5,687
Log Cabin SaddlebagInyo National Forest15,165
Machesna MountainLos Padres National Forest12,271
Pyramid Peak BSan Bernardino National Forest7,194
QuatalLos Padres National Forest7,253
Raymond PeakEldorado National Forest2,518
San DimasAngeles National Forest7,160
Sawmill - BadlandsLos Padres National Forest51,362
Sespe - FrazierAngeles National Forest4,254
Soldier CanyonInyo National Forest40,589
South SierraSequoia National Forest8,008
South SierraInyo National Forest41,853
Tioga LakeInyo National Forest829
Wonoga Pk.Inyo National Forest11,272
WoolstaffSequoia National Forest41,445
Colorado (2)
AreaForestAcres
Comanche Peak Adjacent AreaArapaho & Roosevelt NFs44,158
Dome PeakRoutt NF35,716
Idaho (4)
AreaForestAcres
Borah PeakSalmon-Challis National Forest130,463
HoodooNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest153,868
Italian PeakCaribou-Targhee National Forest141,158
PalisadesCaribou-Targhee National Forest122,002
Montana (17)
AreaForestAcres
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - SwanLewis and Clark National Forest344,022
BridgerGallatin National Forest45,059
Ellis CanyonHelena National Forest5,578
Freezeout MountainBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest97,305
Gallatin FringeGallatin National Forest51,571
Line Creek PlateauCuster National Forest24,825
Lost Water CanyonCuster National Forest9,251
Lost Water Canyon RnaCuster National Forest561
MadisonGallatin National Forest127,859
Middle Mtn. / Tobacco RootsBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest96,487
Mt. Gmt Area HCuster National Forest1,335
North AbsarokaCuster National Forest21,063
North Big HoleBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest52,227
Proposed Line Creek PrnaCuster National Forest389
Reservation DivideLolo National Forest16,908
Snowcrest MountainBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest97,649
West Big HoleBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest133,563
Nevada (23)
AreaForestAcres
Alta T - East BHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest21,732
Bald Mtn.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest41,598
Boundary Peak (NV)Inyo National Forest21,851
Bunker HillHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest27,569
Fourmile HillHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest15,718
Larken LakeHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,159
Lobdell SummitHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest7,791
Long ValleyHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest50,472
MckinneyHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,790
Moriah - Red LedgeHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest670
Moriah - Silver CreekHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,582
Mt. HicksHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest15,698
North Shoshone PeakHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest40,667
Pine Grove SouthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest88,945
QuinnHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest62,459
Santa RosaHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest54,555
SaulsburyHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest30,957
South SchellHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest125,614
Table Mtn. - EastHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest87,789
Toiyabe RangeHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest99,225
Toquima CaveHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest43,147
Warm SpringsHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest29,540
WileyHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest6,864
New Hampshire (1)
AreaForestAcres
JobildunkWhite Mountain National Forest3,660
New Mexico (7)
AreaForestAcres
Apache Kid ContiguousCibola National Forest67,542
Candian RiverCibola National Forest7,149
Latir PeakCarson National Forest3,573
PecosCarson National Forest13,436
Peloncillo (NM)Coronado National Forest43,339
Ryan HillCibola National Forest34,201
Taylor CreekGila National Forest16,639
North Dakota (1)
AreaForestAcres
Bell LakeDakota Prairie Grasslands11,265
Oregon (8)
AreaForestAcres
DeadhorseWallowa-Whitman National Forest10,690
Hebo 1aSiuslaw National Forest13,930
HellholeUmatilla National Forest65,679
Imnaha FaceWallowa-Whitman National Forest29,575
Mt. Hood AdditionsMt. Hood National Forest13,061
Sheep DivideWallowa-Whitman National Forest16,201
Snake RiverWallowa-Whitman National Forest31,229
Twin MountainWallowa-Whitman National Forest58,533
South Dakota (1)
AreaForestAcres
Indian CreekBuffalo Gap National Grassland24,666
Utah (9)
AreaForestAcres
0419020Ashley National Forest355,684
Clarkston Mtn.Caribou National Forest7,099
CottonwoodDixie National Forest6,754
Flat CanyonFishlake National Forest8,663
Oak CreekFishlake National Forest54,053
Pine Valley MountainsDixie National Forest57,673
Signal PeakFishlake National Forest30,889
Thousand Lake MountainFishlake National Forest27,267
WellsvilleWasatch-Cache National Forest1,717
Vermont (2)
AreaForestAcres
Bread LoafGreen Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests1,768
Woodford 09086Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests2,456
Washington (9)
AreaForestAcres
Granite MountainOkanogan National Forest27,428
Green MountainOlympic National Forest4,617
Liberty BellOkanogan National Forest108,495
Long SwampOkanogan National Forest66,344
Mt. Baker NorthMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest16,873
Mt. Baker WestMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest25,390
Mt. ZionOlympic National Forest3,544
QuilceneOlympic National Forest18,656
TiffanyOkanogan National Forest22,045
West Virginia (1)
AreaForestAcres
Middle MountainMonongahela National Forest19,020
Wyoming (17)
AreaForestAcres
Beartooth Proposed WildernessShoshone National Forest16,837
Devils CanyonBighorn National Forest37,416
Gros Ventre MountainsBridger-Teton National Forest106,418
Horse Creek MesaBighorn National Forest77,808
Little BighornBighorn National Forest133,949
Middle ForkShoshone National Forest51,772
Mosquito Lake - Seven LakesBridger-Teton National Forest51,950
PalisadesTarghee National Forest1,121
Phillips RidgeBridger-Teton National Forest10,108
South Beartooth HighwayShoshone National Forest105,570
Strawberry CreekMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest5,880
Sulphur CreekShoshone National Forest30,221
Warm Spring CreekShoshone National Forest6,216
West Slope TetonsTarghee National Forest47,448
West Slope WindsBridger-Teton National Forest143,252
Wilderness Study AreaTarghee National Forest51,961
Windy MountainShoshone National Forest31,283
References (31)
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  23. Sibley, D. A. 2000a. The Sibley guide to birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
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  26. Thompson, F. R., III. 1994. Temporal and spatial patterns of breeding brown-headed cowbirds in the midwestern United States. Auk 111:979-990.
  27. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2001. 30 October 2001. Review of plant and animal species that are Candidates or proposed for listing as Endangered or Threatened, annual notice of findings on recycled petitions, and annual description of progress on listing actions; proposed rule. Federal Register 66(210):54808-54832.
  28. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2021. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Threatened Species Status for Streaked Horned Lark With Section 4(d) Rule. Federal Register 86(69):19186-19207.
  29. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2022. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Threatened Species Status for Streaked Horned Lark With Section 4(d) Rule. Final rule. Federal Register 87(71):21783-21812.
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  31. Willson, M. F. 1966. Breeding ecology of the Yellow-headed Blackbird. Ecological Monographs 36:51-77.