Horned lark, strigata subspecies COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 3
Species Information
Name and classification
The Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) is the only North American representative of the family Alaudidae. Twenty-one subspecies of Horned Lark are recognized in North America (AOU 1957), although many subspecies intergrade (Beason 1995). Eight subspecies occur across Canada. Four of these subspecies occur in British Columbia: one is a passage migrant and three others breed in the province. The Horned Lark, strigata subspecies (E. a. strigata) is the westernmost subspecies in the province, and has the most restricted distribution (Campbell et al. 1997; Cannings 1998).
Description
The Horned Lark is a slender, long-winged passerine. The beak is short and stout, the tail square with black edges evident in flight. The adult male is distinctively marked with a dark facial mask and breast band that contrasts with the pale face and throat. The “horns” for which the species is named are tiny, black feather tufts that are apparent only at close range. Variation in size and plumage (i.e., the colour of the back and the amount of yellow on the face, throat and breast) may allow the males of some subspecies to be distinguished in the field (Sibley 2000).
Adult females are similar to males, but duller, smaller, and they lack “horns”. Females cannot be separated to subspecies in the field. Juveniles are even more nondescript (Sibley 2000).
Eremophila alpestris strigata is relatively small compared to the other subspecies. Its upperparts are dark brown with a walnut brown nape. It has a yellow throat and eye stripe and yellowish underparts (Beason 1995). There is heavy, brown streaking on sides of the breast that should allow separation of this subspecies in the field (Sibley 2000). In the hand, the longest upper tail covert is distinctly streaked (Pyle 1997).
Nationally significant populations
There is essentially only one population of this very scarce taxon in Canada.
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