Horned Lark Numbers on the Rise

A Horned Lark with Hackles Raised

I've been seeing dozens of Horned Larks along the roads in Pepin County, Wisconsin.  And I continue to try to creep close enough for a better look.  Today I got lucky.  The birds seemed to be more intent on feeding, than concerned about the black shadow (me in my Prius) coasting towards them.

Playing my iPod with the BirdJam recording of the song of the Horned Lark seemed to help my picture taking.  One of the birds alerted to the song, looked up and raised the feathers between its horns - something I've never seen before.  I also got close enough to see for the first time, the pinkish tinge to the feathers on the back and shoulders.   The field guides illustrations don't do this bird justice.

Horned Lark with Seed in Beak

One of the best places to see Horned Larks year-round in Pepin County is Silver Birch Road (off County P near Round Hill ).

Horned Larks

We were on our way to Eau Claire this morning when I first spotted them - a small flock.  They were along the side of the road picking at seeds and grit.  Without binoculars, they could have been any sparrow.

Tom's guess:   just another flock of roadside juncos.

But I wasn't feeling the junco jizz.   So I pulled the Prius to the side of County Road O in Meridean and snapped this photo.  A Horned Lark!

The only larks native to North America, these birds can be found year-round in Wisconsin.

For me, seeing flocks of Horned Larks along roadsides is a confirmation that spring is just around the corner.

According to the Atlas of Breeding Birds of Wisconsin,  Horned Larks begin to migrate north as early as January, often congregating along snow-plowed roadsides.  A common grassland breeding species in Wisconsin, these birds have been known to start their reproductive cycle as early as March.

                                       Horned Lark - Christmas Bird Count - relative abundance map

                                   Horned Lark - Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas