Birds of North America Home Page

Field Guide for all the Birds of North America


Larks

Alouettes

Alaudidae

Information, images and range maps on over 1,000 birds of North America, including sub-species, vagrants, introduced birds and possibilities

There are two types of larks that can be found in North America, these being the Horned Lark and the very uncommon Eurasian Skylark. Only the Horned Lark is a native lark that is found throughout the continent. It is seen in different plumages, knowningly recognized as a different sub-species.

larks

The Eurasian Skylark is an introduced bird from Eurasia, once a more commonly found bird in some western regions of North America, whereas today it is only found on Vancouver Island, where it has grasped onto a small area where it breeds. The Sky Lark is a much more common bird seen in Eurasia and also a regular visitor to Alaska as a vagrant.

Horned Larks are primarily field birds, known for their hardiness and are seen throughout Canada, even in the winter months. These larks are found most often along roads and highways as they feed on grass seeds and find food in areas of bare earth.

Click on the bird images or names to see pictures of Larks seen in North America

References to Other Bird Sites:

Avibase - the world bird database This site provides the user with a complete list of bird species, broken down per country, or in the example of the US or Canada, per state and province. Here, bird species names are available in other languages, a great asset to be used as a translation of foreign bird names.

ABA - American Birding Association This site represents an organization that maintains official records of all birds species that have been proven to have been seen inside the perimeters of the North American Continent and the surrounding bodies of water. Regular revised versions are posted to keep the bird list current at all times. This is the list used by all serious birders over their lifetime. You may be aware of the movie called the "Big Year". It was with this list that all the competing birders used in an attempt to set a new record as to how many bird species that could be seen by an individual birder in one calendar year.

I hope you will take advantage of these suggested websites. I have used each of them, in one way or another, throughout the years in my quest to better identify and understand our fine feathered friends.


Classic Collection of North American Birds

CCNAB