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Lark Bunting

Calamospiza melanocorysOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Sparrows (Emberizidae)
Lark Bunting Breeding Male Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: Cone
  • Eye Color: Dark brown-black in both sexes.
  • Head Pattern: Plain
  • Crown Color: Black
  • Forehead Color: Black
  • Nape Color: Black
  • Throat Color: Black
  • Cere color: No Data
Lark Bunting Breeding Male Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 18 cm (7 in)
  • Weight: 31 g (1.1 oz)
  • Size: Size 2. Small (5 - 9 in)
  • Color: White, Black
  • Underparts: Black with black and white spotted undertail coverts.
  • Upperparts: Black
  • Back Pattern: Solid
  • Belly Pattern: Solid
  • Breast Pattern: Solid
Lark Bunting Breeding Male Flight Illustration

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Alternates several shallow wing beats with wings pulled to sides.
  • Wingspan Range: 28 cm (11 in)
  • Wing Shape: Pointed-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Pointed Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Tipped
  • Upper Tail: Black with white tip and black central feathers.
  • Under Tail: Black with white tip and black central feathers.
  • Leg Color: Black
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Family Buntings, Finches, Sparrows (Emberizidae)_blue
Species Calamospiza melanocorys
Length7 Inches
Wingspan11 Inches

Lark Bunting

Lark Bunting: Large sparrow, nearly black with large white wing patches, short, white-edged tail, and heavy, blue-gray bill. Forages in groung, low vegetation. Strong flight, alternates shallow wing beats with brief periods of wings pulled to sides. It is the state bird of Colorado.

● Song: "hoo-ee"

● Foraging & Feeding: Lark Bunting: Feeds on insects, including grasshoppers, beetles, and ants, seeds, and waste grain. Walks or hops along the ground when foraging, often in flocks.

● Breeding & nesting: Lark Bunting: Three to seven pale blue or green eggs spotted with red brown are laid in a loose cup nest made of grass, roots, and other plant material, lined with hair and plant down, and built on the ground, usually sheltered by grass or a small bush. Incubation ranges from 11 to 12 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Lark Bunting: Other sparrows lack the white wing patches. Bobolink has a dull white nape, white rump, and white back patches.

Flight Pattern

Alternates several shallow wing beats with wings pulled to sides.
Lark Bunting Breeding Male Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Lark Bunting: Breeds on prairies of south-central Canada and central U.S. Spends winters in the southwest and Mexico. Found in shortgrass prairies, sagebrush flats, and open areas in the southeastern lowlands.
BreedingMonogamous, Loose colonies, Some polygynous
Population
MigrationMigratory
Weight1.1 Ounces