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    Lark Sparrow Identification

    Lark Sparrow Adult
    Adult

    Large, pale sparrow with thick bill. Adults have very striking head pattern with reddish crown and cheek patch, pale stripe over the eye, and strong black malar or mustache stripe. Black spot in center of white breast.

    © Joshua D. Vandermeulen | Macaulay LibraryOntario, April 16, 2017
    Lark Sparrow Immature
    Immature

    Large, pale sparrow with thick bill and long tail. Immatures have similar face pattern to adults but lack the reddish coloration to crown and cheek.

    © Neil Diaz | Macaulay LibraryTexas, June 25, 2017
    Lark Sparrow Adult
    Adult

    Large sparrow with bold, complex head pattern of dark, light, and reddish stripes. Call note is a thin chip.

    © Larry R Arbanas | Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 20, 2008
    Lark Sparrow Juvenile and adult
    Juvenile and adult

    Large sparrow with thick bill. Adults have colorful head pattern and black streaks on the back. Juveniles have brown-on-white head pattern and streaks on the breast.

    © Ken Schneider | Macaulay LibraryIllinois, July 10, 2017
    Lark Sparrow Adult
    Adult

    Large sparrow with thick bill. Long tail has white corners that flash in flight. Reddish brown crown and cheek with pale eyebrow and dark mustache stripe are distinctive.

    © Jay McGowan | Macaulay LibraryColorado, August 07, 2010
    Lark Sparrow Immature
    Immature

    Immatures have strong face pattern like adult, but without reddish brown. Long tail has large white flashes in the corners.

    © Alix d'Entremont | Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, November 25, 2016
    Lark Sparrow Habitat
    Habitat

    Occurs in prairie, grassland, agricultural areas, desert scrub, sagebrush, and other open areas.

    © Steve Valasek | Macaulay LibraryArizona, July 16, 2017
    See more images of this species in Macaulay Library

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    Adult Description

    • Large sparrow.
    • Long, rounded tail with white corners.
    • Plain whitish underparts with large dark spot in center of breast.
    • Striking face pattern.

    Immature Description

    Juvenile with brown streaks on chest. Face pattern more obscure with browns instead of chestnut and black, and dirty white stripes. First winter has adult pattern, but duller on face.
    Relative Size

    Relative Sizesparrow or smallersparrow-sized or smaller
    Measurements
    • Both Sexes
      • Length: 5.9-6.7 in (15-17 cm)
      • Weight: 0.8-1.2 oz (24-33 g)
      • Wingspan: 11.0 in (28 cm)

    Species in This Family

    New World Buntings and Sparrows(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Passerellidae)

    Rufous-winged SparrowRufous-winged Sparrow
    Botteri's SparrowBotteri's Sparrow
    Cassin's SparrowCassin's Sparrow
    Grasshopper SparrowGrasshopper Sparrow
    Baird's SparrowBaird's Sparrow
    Henslow's SparrowHenslow's Sparrow
    LeConte's SparrowLeConte's Sparrow
    Nelson's SparrowNelson's Sparrow
    Saltmarsh SparrowSaltmarsh Sparrow
    Seaside SparrowSeaside Sparrow
    American Tree SparrowAmerican Tree Sparrow
    Chipping SparrowChipping Sparrow
    Clay-colored SparrowClay-colored Sparrow
    Field SparrowField Sparrow
    Brewer's SparrowBrewer's Sparrow
    Black-throated SparrowBlack-throated Sparrow
    Lark SparrowLark Sparrow
    Lark BuntingLark Bunting
    Fox SparrowFox Sparrow
    Dark-eyed JuncoDark-eyed Junco
    White-crowned SparrowWhite-crowned Sparrow
    Golden-crowned SparrowGolden-crowned Sparrow
    Harris's SparrowHarris's Sparrow
    White-throated SparrowWhite-throated Sparrow
    Sagebrush SparrowSagebrush Sparrow
    Bell's SparrowBell's Sparrow
    Vesper SparrowVesper Sparrow
    Savannah SparrowSavannah Sparrow
    Song SparrowSong Sparrow
    Lincoln's SparrowLincoln's Sparrow
    Swamp SparrowSwamp Sparrow
    Canyon TowheeCanyon Towhee
    Abert's TowheeAbert's Towhee
    California TowheeCalifornia Towhee
    Rufous-crowned SparrowRufous-crowned Sparrow
    Green-tailed TowheeGreen-tailed Towhee
    Spotted TowheeSpotted Towhee
    Eastern TowheeEastern Towhee

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