Lark bunting is a sparrowlike bird of the Great Plains of Canada and the northern United States. It is one of just six songbirds found only on the grasslands of North America. Its stocky body features a broad head, a thick bill, a short tail, and short, rounded wings. The female lark bunting is primarily grayish-brown and white. The feathers of the male change in color with the seasons. The lark bunting measures about 6 to 7.5 inches (15 to 19 centimeters) long. It is the state bird of Colorado.
During breeding season, from around March to July, the male has black feathers with distinct white patches on the wings and the corners of the tail. Dark brown streaks mark the female’s white chest and grayish-brown back and sides. The edges of her wings and the tips of her tail appear whitish. During the nonbreeding season, the male resembles the female, though he exhibits some black coloration, particularly around the face, throat, and breast.
The lark bunting is unusual in having two flight songs. The primary song consists of a series of repeated, whistled notes with intervals of high-pitched, vibrating sounds called trills. This song serves to court mates. The male typically attracts the female by flying into the air and circling back to the ground slowly, beating his wings while singing. The aggressive flight song, used in territorial displays, includes harsh notes, sharp whistles, and low frequencies.
Loading the player...Lark bunting
The lark bunting makes its nest in a low bush or on the ground next to a plant large enough to shade the nest. The nest typically consists of dried grass and weeds and may be lined with hair, mosses, wool, or feathers. The female lays from three to seven eggs that are light greenish-blue in color and occasionally marked with reddish-brown spots.
Lark buntings primarily hunt for food on the ground, eating mostly insects in summer and seeds in winter. In late summer and early autumn, lark buntings migrate to the southwest United States and north-central Mexico for the winter. During the nonbreeding season, lark buntings often form large flocks and feed together.
