Bird of the Week – Horned Lark

The Horned Lark, like last week’s American Pipit, is a bird that migrates to Alaska and northern Canada to breed in the high alpine tundra, above tree line. This is North America’s only native lark. If anything, Horned Larks breed at even higher, sketchier altitudes than American Pipits. This bird was near the top of Whistle Ridge, at an elevation of about 5,000 feet. They succeed and prosper there, raising their young among the rocks, lichen and intermittent Dryas mat. Horned Larks don’t migrate quite as far south as American Pipits, although their winter ranges overlap. By the way, Horned Larks’ courtship…