Horned Lark Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesHorned Lark
Male
Small, sparrowlike bird with a long body and a small bill. Brownish above and pale below with a black chest band. Males have a black mask and variable amounts of yellow on the head and throat. Also note tiny hornlike feathers that sometimes stick straight up on the head.
© Christoph Moning / Macaulay LibraryMarrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, January 02, 2015Female
Females lack the male's black mask and are generally paler, with only a slight yellow wash on the throat and a brown breast band.
© Theo Staengl / Macaulay LibraryOhio, May 11, 2019Male
Small, sparrow-sized bird with thin, straight bill. Tiny black "horns" on the sides of the crown can be raised or lowered. Note sandy brown back contrasting with blackish tail.
© Larry Arbanas / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 27, 2007Not all videos have sound
Female
Small songbird with a small head and bill. Females have a pale yellow wash on the throat and a dusky breast band. They lack the male's black eye patch.
© Peter Candido / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, August 28, 2018Juvenile
Juveniles are brown overall with white-edged feathers and a brown breast band.
© Matt Davis / Macaulay LibraryNevada, August 10, 2019Male
Males have tiny hornlike feathers on top of the head that can be raised and lowered.
© Christoph Moning / Macaulay LibraryMarrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, January 02, 2015Male
Sandy to rusty brown above with a black tail that is especially noticeable in flight. Back and throat color vary across the range from rusty to sandy and from pale yellow to bright yellow.
© Curtis Dykstra / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, May 19, 2017Male
Slender sparrowlike bird with a small head and bill. Males have a black mask, black breast band, and yellow throat. Their namesake horns are not always visible.
© Matt Davis / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, July 29, 2018Habitat
Found in open country with very short or no vegetation, including bare agricultural fields. Often difficult to spot on bare ground thanks to their small size and brown and sandy-colored backs.
© Tim Lenz / Macaulay LibraryNew York, January 31, 2016Similar SpeciesLapland Longspur
Nonbreeding
Longspurs can often be found foraging with Horned Larks, but they are smaller and have a thicker bill than Horned Larks. Nonbreeding Lapland Longspurs lack the Horned Lark's black breast band.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, December 19, 2003Similar SpeciesChestnut-collared Longspur
Nonbreeding
Nonbreeding Chestnut-collared Longspurs are drabber overall and lack the Horned Lark's black breast band.
© Jacob Drucker / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, November 13, 2016Similar SpeciesThick-billed Longspur
Breeding male
Breeding male Thick-billed Longspurs have a black mark on their breast, but their mark is much thicker than the Horned Lark's. They are also smaller and have a thicker bill.
© Shawn Billerman / Macaulay LibraryWyoming, April 12, 2014Similar SpeciesThick-billed Longspur
Female
Longspurs can often be found foraging with Horned Larks, but they are smaller and have a thicker bill than Horned Larks. Female Thick-billed Longspurs are more heavily streaked than Horned Larks.
© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay LibraryColorado, April 20, 2012Similar SpeciesSmith's Longspur
Nonbreeding
Nonbreeding Smith's Longspurs are more heavily streaked than Horned Larks with 2 white wingbars.
© Justyn Stahl / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, September 23, 2016Similar SpeciesSprague's Pipit
Adult/immature
Spraque's Pipits are smaller than Horned Larks and are more heavily streaked on the back and breast. In flight Sprague's Pipits flash white outertail feathers, whereas Horned Larks flash black.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryKansas, October 23, 2011Similar SpeciesAmerican Pipit
Nonbreeding/immature
Nonbreeding/immature American Pipits have streaked chests and lack the Horned Lark's black breast band. In flight American Pipits flash white outertail feathers, whereas Horned Larks flash black.
© Doug Hitchcox / Macaulay LibraryMaine, November 15, 2015Similar SpeciesAmerican Pipit
Breeding adult
Breeding American Pipits lack the Horned Lark's black breast band. In flight American Pipits flash white outertail feathers, whereas Horned Larks flash black.
© Shawn Billerman / Macaulay LibraryColorado, June 12, 2015Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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