Above and below: Horned Larks near Mojave, California (10/5/2011).

Below: A Horned Lark in Kent County, Maryland (2/2005).

Below: A Horned Lark in Kent Co., Maryland (2/25/2007). Third photo shows roadside foraging action.

Below: A Horned Lark sings exuberantly, horns raised, along an Egypt Road field (Dorchester Co., Maryland, 2/10/2008).

Below: An adult female Horned Lark in central Indiana

Below: As so often seen, Horned Larks beside a country road after a snow storm. Photographed in Cass County, Indiana in December 2004.

Below: A nice example of a strange-looking immature Horned Lark in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (8/24/2007).

Below: A Horned Lark in southeastern Washington (6/18/2005).

Comments:  This widespread bird of the open country is a year-round resident across most of the U.S., but a large migrating population also nests in northern Canada and Alaska. These birds can most easily be found in open fields, particularly those that have recently been plowed.

Males have a particularly interesting courtship display. Here's a summary according to Birds of the Mid-Atlantic (Smithsonian Handbooks): "The spectacular display flight of the male bird begins with an ascending flight as high as 800 feet. Singing, he then circles, closes his wings, and drops headfirst almost to the ground, where he opens his wings at the last second. He then struts around the female with his wings drooped and horns erect."

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