The Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) is a small, ground-dwelling songbird with an extraordinarily wide distribution across open habitats of North America, Europe, and Asia, favoring barren landscapes such as prairies, agricultural fields, tundra, beaches, and alpine meadows where vegetation is sparse or short. It is named for the small black feather tufts, or "horns," that protrude from the head of adult males, and it displays a distinctive facial pattern of black markings across a pale yellow or white face, paired with a black breast band and brown, streaky upperparts that blend seamlessly into its open, exposed surroundings. Horned Larks forage on the ground for seeds and insects, walking or running rather than hopping, and are often seen in flocks—sometimes mixed with snow buntings or longspurs—during the nonbreeding season. Known for their early breeding season, sometimes starting in late winter, males perform elaborate flight songs high in the air before descending in a dramatic dive while singing, and despite being one of the most widespread and adaptable lark species in the world, populations have declined in parts of their range due to the loss of open grassland and agricultural habitat.
