Larks are small songbirds that belong to the family Alaudidae. There are around 90 different lark species found worldwide, and about 13 lark species that live in North America. Larks are found in a variety of open habitats like grasslands, agricultural fields, deserts, and tundra environments. Their diet consists mostly of seeds and insects. Larks are known for their melodious songs, mostly delivered during flight. Let’s take a closer look at the different species of larks found in North America and their preferred habitats.
Which species of larks live in North America?
There are 13 lark species that live in North America:
| Horned Lark | Eremophila alpestris |
| California Horned Lark | Eremophila alpestris actia |
| Streaked Horned Lark | Eremophila alpestris strigata |
| Pallid Horned Lark | Eremophila alpestris arcticola |
| Desert Horned Lark | Eremophila alpestris desolata |
| Socorro Horned Lark | Eremophila alpestris insularis |
| Sky Lark | Alauda arvensis |
| Oriental Skylark | Alauda gulgula |
| Woodlark | Lullula arborea |
| Brown Lark | Melanocorypha yeltoniensis |
| Eurasian Skylark | Alauda arvensis |
| Crested Lark | Galerida cristata |
| Horned Lark | Eremophila alpestris |
The most widespread lark species in North America is the Horned Lark. The Oriental Skylark and Eurasian Skylark were introduced to North America from Asia and Europe. Let’s go through each of these species in more detail.
Horned Lark
The Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) is the most common and widespread lark species found across North America. They are found from northern Alaska and Canada down to central Mexico. There are several subspecies of Horned Lark including:
- California Horned Lark (E. a. actia) – Found along the Pacific coast
- Streaked Horned Lark (E. a. strigata) – Native to the Puget lowlands and Willamette Valley in Washington and Oregon
- Pallid Horned Lark (E. a. arcticola) – Found in the high arctic regions
- Desert Horned Lark (E. a. desolata) – Native to the arid desert regions of southwest North America
- Socorro Horned Lark (E. a. insularis) – Endemic to Socorro Island off Mexico’s west coast
Horned Larks prefer open habitats like prairies, agricultural areas, deserts, alpine tundra, and coastal regions. They mostly eat seeds and some insects. The male sings its melodious song in flight over its breeding territory. They nest on the ground hidden in vegetation.
Sky Lark
The Sky Lark (Alauda arvensis) is a species native to Eurasia that was introduced to North America. They are found mostly on the Prairies of Canada and the northern United States. Sky Larks prefer open habitats like pastures, meadows, agricultural fields and grasslands. They feed on seeds, grains and insects. Their musical song is delivered in hovering flight over the male’s breeding territory. Nests are made in scrapes on the ground.
Oriental Skylark
The Oriental Skylark (Alauda gulgula) is native to Asia and was introduced to North America in the late 1800s. They are found along the west coast of North America from British Columbia to northern California. Oriental Skylarks inhabit open grasslands, agricultural areas, meadows and fields. Their diet consists of seeds and insects. Males sing their melodious song in flight over their breeding territory like other larks. They nest on the ground in small depressions.
Woodlark
The Woodlark (Lullula arborea) is the only true forest-dwelling lark. It is native to Europe and was introduced to North America around the early 1900s. In North America, they are found from Nova Scotia to Ontario, mostly near urban areas and parks with large grassy spaces and scattered trees. Woodlarks inhabit open woodlands with grassy clearings. They eat insects and seeds foraged from the ground. Males sing beautifully from high perches. Nests are made on the ground hidden in vegetation.
Brown Lark
The Brown Lark (Melanocorypha yeltoniensis) is a species found in Asia that has been sighted as a rare vagrant in Alaska. Not much is known about its range and habitat preferences in North America. It inhabits open grassy plains and cultivated fields. Brown larks eat insects and seeds. Males sing in flight over the nesting territory.
Eurasian Skylark
The Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis) is native to Europe and Asia. It was introduced multiple times to North America starting in the 1800s. Today it is found mostly on the Canadian Prairies with small populations on the west coast and in the northeastern United States. Eurasian Skylarks prefer open country like agricultural land, meadows, and grasslands. They eat seeds and insects while foraging on the ground. Males sing beautifully while hovering high in the sky over their breeding territory.
Crested Lark
The Crested Lark (Galerida cristata) is native to Europe and Asia. It was accidentally introduced to Vancouver Island in 1959 when a small flock escaped captivity. Today this species is found in a small area on southeastern Vancouver Island. The Crested Lark inhabits grasslands, agricultural fields, meadows, and beaches. Its diet consists of seeds and insects. Males sing their loud, melodious song from an elevated perch. Nests are made in a depression on the ground.
What regions and habitats do larks occupy in North America?
Larks occupy a variety of open habitats across North America. Here is a summary of the key regions and habitats used by the major lark species:
Horned Lark
Found across most of North America in:
- Prairies
- Grasslands
- Agricultural fields
- Pastures
- Alpine tundra
- Deserts
- Coastal regions
Sky Lark
Found on the Prairies of Canada and northern U.S. in:
- Grasslands
- Pastures
- Agricultural fields
- Meadows
Oriental Skylark
West coast U.S. and southern B.C. in:
- Grasslands
- Agricultural fields
- Meadows
Eurasian Skylark
Mainly the Prairies of Canada in:
- Agricultural land
- Grasslands
- Meadows
Crested Lark
Small region of southeastern Vancouver Island in:
- Grasslands
- Agricultural fields
- Meadows
- Beaches
So in summary, larks in North America mainly occupy open habitats like prairies, grasslands, agricultural land, pastures, meadows, and alpine tundra environments. The greatest diversity of lark species is found on the Prairies of Canada and the western United States.
How do the habitats used by North American larks compare to Eurasian lark habitats?
Many Eurasian lark species have very similar habitat requirements to North American larks:
- Skylark – Grasslands, meadows, pastures, agricultural fields
- Woodlark – Open woodlands, grassy clearings
- Shore Lark – Alpine tundra, coastal areas
- Calandra Lark – Steppes, agricultural land
- Greater Short-toed Lark – Open sandy areas, grasslands, fields
However, Eurasia also has some lark species that occupy habitats not used by North American larks:
- Temminck’s Lark – Deserts
- Mongolian Lark – Semi-desert, steppe
- Horned Lark – High mountain grasslands and meadows
- Singing Bush Lark – Dry scrub and bushy terrain
And North America has some habitat specialists not found in Eurasia:
- Streaked Horned Lark – Restricted to the Puget lowlands and Willamette Valley
- Socorro Horned Lark – Endemic to Socorro Island off Mexico’s coast
So while there is a lot of similarity and overlap, we can see some subtle geographic differences in habitat use between the two continental lark faunas. North America lacks lark species specializing in deserts and semi-arid terrain which are abundant in Eurasia. And North America has a couple endemic larks found in very localized habitats.
Do larks migrate or stay resident year-round in North America? What are their migration patterns?
Most larks found in North America are year-round residents that do not migrate significant distances. However, populations that breed in the far north of Alaska and Canada migrate south for the winter. Here are some details on migration patterns for the major North American lark species:
Horned Lark
- Northern populations migrate south in winter, southern populations are residents
- Migrates in loose flocks from northern Alaska and Canada to southern Canada and northern U.S.
- Short-distance altitudinal migration in mountainous regions
Sky Lark
- Mainly resident across range
- Canadian populations may migrate short distances southwards in winter
Oriental Skylark
- Resident across small North American range
Eurasian Skylark
- Mainly resident, some local movement based on weather conditions
Crested Lark
- Introduced resident population on Vancouver Island
So in general, northern populations of some species like the Horned Lark migrate south in winter, while southern populations are year-round residents. Migration distances are fairly short, mainly just far enough south to find open habitat.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are 13 lark species found in North America, with the Horned Lark being the most widespread and common. Larks occupy open habitats like grasslands, agricultural fields, prairies, pastures, alpine tundra, and coastal areas. These habitats are very similar to those used by Eurasian larks. While northern populations migrate short distances in winter, most North American larks do not undergo long migrations and are resident year-round. Further research is still needed to better understand the migration patterns and habitat requirements of some of the rarer North American lark species.
