| Group | Larks |
| Code | ABPAT02010 |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Alaudidae |
| Author | (Linnaeus, 1758) |
| Rank | G5 (definitions) |
| Occurrence | SM (definitions) |
| Scale | N (definitions) |
| Western UP | Baraga, Menominee, Marquette, Dickinson, Delta |
| Eastern UP | Chippewa |
| Northern LP | all |
| Southern LP | all |
Mixed Forested/Nonforested or Nonforested Landscapes
Any Cropland
view decision rule term definitions
| Habitats | Regen | Sap | Pole | Sm Saw | Lg Saw | Uneven |
| Aspen | no | no | no | no | no | - |
| Paper Birch | no | no | no | no | no | - |
| Oak | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Assorted Hardwoods | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Northern Hardwoods | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Spruce/Fir | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Hemlock | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Jack Pine | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Red Pine | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| White Pine | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Conifer Plantations | no | no | no | no | no | - |
| Mixed Upland Hardwoods | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Mixed Northern Hardwoods | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Mixed Upland Conifer | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Mixed Pine | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Swamp Hardwoods | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Balsam Poplar & Swamp Aspen & Swamp Birch | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Bottomland Hardwoods | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Tamarack | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Northern White Cedar | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Black Spruce | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Mixed Lowland Hardwoods | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Mixed Lowland Conifer | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Non-Forested | Row Crops, Small Grains/Forage Crops, Fields/Pastures | |||||
| Special Features | none |
Habitat: The breeding habitat is most simply described as open and sparsely vegetated, including tundra, grassland, and agricultural lands. Conventional row-crop fields are used extensively early in the season. Populations in agricultural landscapes may shift out of row crops as vegetation becomes dense and concentrate later nesting efforts in new-mown hayfields. Out of 69 records for the Atlas Habitat Survey, 46 were in row crops, 11 in old fields, and 6 in hay. It is the combination of very early breeding and the use of open, and even plowed, habitats that make this species unique.
The Horned Lark is one of the few bird species that has benefited from the spread of modern agriculture.
Habitat: Breeding: Plowed fields and large open areas with closely cropped grasses, golf courses, athletic fields, cemeteries, airports, seashores. Prefers areas with a minimum of vegetation. Absent from wooded areas and high mountains. Wintering: Similar to breeding habitat. Concentrates on snowless wind-swept areas near coast where food is more accessible.
Special Habitat Requirements: Bare exposed earth within territory.
Does well on overgrazed or abused land, so has probably increased in North America with advance of civilization.
Habitat: Prairies, fields, airports, shores, tundra. Inhabits open ground, generally avoiding areas with trees or even bushes. May occur in a wide variety of situations that are sufficiently open; shortgrass prairies, extensive lawns (as at airports or golf courses), plowed fields, stubble fields, beaches, lake flats, dry tundra of far north or mountains.
Diet: Seeds and insects. Feeds on small seeds from a great variety of grasses and weeds, also waste grain. Many insects are also eaten, especially in summer, when they may make up half of the total diet. Also eats some spiders and snails, and eats berries of low-growing plants in some regions.
Nest: Site is on open ground, often next to grass clump, piece of dried cow manure, or other object. Nest is slight depression in ground, lined with grass, weeds, rootlets, with inner lining of fine grass or plant down. One side of nest has flat "doorstep" of pebbles.