Lark Sparrow

Chondestes grammacus

Order PASSERIFORMES - Family EMBERIZIDAE

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1. Cool Facts
2. Description
3. Similar Species
4. Sound
5. Range
6. Habitat
7. Food
8. Reproduction
9. Conservation Status
10. Other Names

A conspicuous sparrow of farmlands and roadsides, the Lark Sparrow has a bold face and tail pattern. With unusual courtship displays as well as plumage, it is like no other sparrow and is the sole member of its genus.

Cool Facts

• Unlike many songbirds, the Lark Sparrow walks on the ground rather than hops. It hops only during courtship.

• A courting male Lark Sparrow crouches on the ground, holds his tail up at a 45 degree angle from the ground, spreads the tail feathers to show off the white tips, and then struts with its wings drooping so that the wingtips nearly touch the ground. When the female is receptive, the male gives her a small twig just before copulation.

• The Lark Sparrow often takes over old mockingbird or thrasher nests instead of building its own. Occasionally the eggs and young of two species are found in the same nest, suggesting that the Lark Sparrow shares the nest with the other bird.

Description

• Size: 15-17 cm (6-7 in)
• Wingspan: 28 cm (11 in)
• Weight: 24-33 g (0.85-1.16 ounces)

• Large sparrow.
• Long, rounded tail with white corners.
• Plain whitish underparts with large dark spot in center of breast.
• Striking face pattern.

• Chestnut ear patches.
• Chestnut crown stripe divided by central white stripe.
• Black malar stripes, with white stripe above.
• Buffy and white stripe above eye.
• Black line through eye.
• White ring around eye.
• Flanks buffy.
• Buffy wingbars.
• Black stripes on back.

Sex Differences

Sexes alike, males slightly larger.

Immature

Juvenile with brown streaks on chest. Face pattern more obscure with browns instead of chestnut and black, and dirty white stripes. First winter has adult pattern, but duller on face.

Similar Species

• Vesper Sparrow has white only on the edges of its tail, has a streaked breast, and lacks the bold face pattern.

Sound

Song a melodius jumble of clear notes and trills, interspersed with harsh buzzes and churrs.

»listen to songs of this species

Range

Summer Range

Breeds from southern central Canada southward to northern Mexico, westward to California coast and eastward to Mississippi River and western Indiana. Irregular breeder eastward to Ohio and North Carolina.

Winter Range

Winters primarily in California and from Texas southward through Mexico. Scattered individuals found throughout United States and on East Coast.

Habitat

Breeds in open habitats, where grass adjoins scattered trees and shrubs, especially in poor or sandy soils. Park-like woodlands, mesquite grasslands, fallow fields with brushy edges, sagebrush.

Food

Insects and seeds.

Reproduction

Nest Type

Nest a thick-walled cup of grass, twigs, or weedy stems lined with finer grass or horse hair. Placed on ground or in a shrub or small tree.

Egg Description

Creamy white with dark spots and scrawls.

Clutch Size

Usually 4 eggs. Range: 3-6.

Condition at Hatching

Eyes closed and some down present.

Conservation Status

Breeding Bird Survey data show a nationwide decrease in populations, especially in the eastern portion of its range.

Other Names

Bruant à joues marron (French)
Gorrión arlequín (Spanish)

Sources used to construct this page:

Martin, J. W., and J. R. Parrish. 2000. Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus). In The Birds of North America, No. 488 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.