San Jose, California, US - April 5, 2009
Credit: Chuq Von Rospach

North American field guide

Lark Sparrow

Chondestes grammacus

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

17 cm (6-7") Fairly common in United States west of Mississippi, entering into southern Canada in prairies. Dry fields near brush or trees, prairies, farmlands, roadsides, mesas. Often in flocks, especially in winter.

Unstreaked white underparts with a central dark breast spot. Striped crown. Distinctive facial pattern; chestnut ear patch and broad stripe above eye.

In flight; rounded white-cornered tail is conspicuous.

Song: notes and trills interrupted by buzzes.

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

Loading the rebuilt map…

Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Approximate reconstruction of a historical map. Source date unknown.

Geography: Natural Earth
Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Lark Sparrow

2 rules
Rule 1 16 criteria confidence 1
What SIZE was the TAIL ?
Medium · Long · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?
Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?
Light outer edge or corners · None · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?
Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?
Uniform color · Spotted or mottled · Has a central spot · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?
Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?
Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the CHEEKS ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What were the EYE markings if any ?
Light STRIPE OVER, BEHIND or THROUGH the eye · Dark STRIPE THROUGH the eye · Unknown
Was the HEAD striped ?
Yes · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?
Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Sparrow-like
What type of environment was the bird seen in?
Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra
WHERE was the bird seen ?
Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States
result:165-lark-sparrow:1:1 Source: 165 Lark Sparrow, row 1
Rule 2 16 criteria confidence 5
What SIZE was the TAIL ?
Medium · Long · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?
Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?
Light outer edge or corners · None · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?
Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?
Uniform color · Spotted or mottled · Has a central spot · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?
Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?
Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the CHEEKS ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What were the EYE markings if any ?
Light STRIPE OVER, BEHIND or THROUGH the eye · Dark STRIPE THROUGH the eye · Unknown
Was the HEAD striped ?
Yes · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?
Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Sparrow-like
What type of environment was the bird seen in?
Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra
WHERE was the bird seen ?
Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States
result:165-lark-sparrow:2:1 Source: 165 Lark Sparrow, row 2