Horned Lark Identification

Male

Small, sparrowlike bird with a long body and a small bill. Brownish above and pale below with a black chest band. Males have a black mask and variable amounts of yellow on the head and throat. Also note tiny hornlike feathers that sometimes stick straight up on the head.

Female

Females lack the male's black mask and are generally paler, with only a slight yellow wash on the throat and a brown breast band.

Male

Small, sparrow-sized bird with thin, straight bill. Tiny black "horns" on the sides of the crown can be raised or lowered. Note sandy brown back contrasting with blackish tail.

Female

Small songbird with a small head and bill. Females have a pale yellow wash on the throat and a dusky breast band. They lack the male's black eye patch.

Juvenile

Juveniles are brown overall with white-edged feathers and a brown breast band.

Juvenile

Male

Males have tiny hornlike feathers on top of the head that can be raised and lowered.

Male

Sandy to rusty brown above with a black tail that is especially noticeable in flight. Back and throat color vary across the range from rusty to sandy and from pale yellow to bright yellow.

Male

Slender sparrowlike bird with a small head and bill. Males have a black mask, black breast band, and yellow throat. Their namesake horns are not always visible.

Male

Male

Immature male

Immature male

Female/immature

Habitat

Found in open country with very short or no vegetation, including bare agricultural fields. Often difficult to spot on bare ground thanks to their small size and brown and sandy-colored backs.