TRUE LARKS 
297 
Figure 399 
Horned Lurk, showing long hind claw; 
natural size. 
474. Horned Lark, shore lark, l’alouette ordinaire (1’ortolan). Otocoris 
alpestris. L. 7 -75. Plate XLIV 13. A ground bird, approximately of the size of a suar- 
row; greyish pink or light brownish 
above; white below with black gorget, 
face mark, and forehead; and white or 
pale yellow throat. 
Distinctions. The long hind toe- 
nail (Figure 399b) is one of the dis- 
tinctive marks of the true larks, but is 
shared by the titlark and the longspurs. 
The latter, however, are sparrows with 
typical conical bills, and very different 
from the larks. The yellow, creamy, 
or white throat, black gorget, and 
erect, horn-like black ear tufts are distinctive of the Horned Lark (Figure 399a). 
Field Marks. Ground-frequenting habits, often in large flocks; extensive white 
below, erectile horns, and black gorget with white or pale yellow throat. 
Nesting. On the ground in the open. Nest of grass in small, natural hollow. Often 
amid the snowdrifts of early spring. 
Distribution. North .America, Europe, and Asia. In Canada, all open country north 
to the Arctic Ocean and irregularly over tiie islands beyond. 
SUBSPECIES. Few birds have been divided into as many, or as puzzling, sub- 
species as the Horned Lark. In Canada we have a northern and southern series of sub- 
species distributed across the continent, the northern ones being, in each case, slightly but 
consistently larger than ‘their southern neighbours. Across the more southerly parts 
of Ontario and Quebec we have the Prairie Horned Lark (1’Alouette des prairies) Otocoris 
alpestris praticola, extending westward into Manitoba. This is a small, moderately pale 
bird; line over eye and forehead, white; throat, pale yellow, sometimes white. North of 
this subspecies is the type form, the Northern Horned Lark (l’Alouette du Nord) Otocoris 
alpestris alpestris. Slightly larger and more robust, all the colouring stronger, and the 
eyebrows, forehead, and cheeks distinctly yellow. This bird migrates irregularly through 
the southern parts of the eastern provinces, and occasionally through Manitoba. West 
of the range of the Prairie Horned Lark is the Desert Horned Lark (l’Alouette pale) 
Otocoris alpestris leucolaema, of the same small size as the Prairie Horned Lark, but de- 
cidedly paler, the vinaceous of the upper parts is reduced to pinkish, and the brown back 
stripings are largely concealed with greyish. Throat, yellow or white. This form occupies 
most of our central prairies and southward. Some authorities divide leucolaema into two 
races, the northern of which enters Canada and is known as the Saskatchewan Horned 
Lark Otocoris alpestris enthemia, but it has not been accepted in the Check-list. North, 
along the central Arctic coast and extending eastward in the islands above, is Hoyt’s 
Horned Lark (l’Alouette de Hoyt) Otocoris alpestris hoyti. It approximates the large 
Eastern Lark in size, but the forehead, eyebrow, and face are white. The throat may 
be pale yellow or white. In summer the body colours are bright and contrastive, with 
much strong ruddy. In migration season it is much like the Prairie Horned Lark, but 
larger. It migrates through the Prairie Provinces. In the lowlands of southern British 
Columbia the Dusky Horned Lark (l’Alouette nomitre) Otocoris alpestris merrilli is a 
rather rare summer resident. It is a small dark form very similar to the Prairie Horned 
Lark, but usually with a yellowish eyebrow, and is far removed from that race geograph- 
ically. At higher elevations through British Columbia and lower in Yukon and Alaska 
is the Arctic Horned Lark (1’Alouette arctique) Otocoris alpestris articola. It is another 
large race, paler than the Dusky, the Prairie, or Hoyt’s, but darker than the Desert. The 
throat is always white. In size it agrees with Hoyt’s and the Eastern Horned Larks. 
It migrates throughout the prairies, perhaps as far east as Manitoba. East of the Coast 
Range in southern British Columbia the Streaked Horned Lark (1’Alouette striee) Otocoris 
alpestris strigata may be found. It is the smallest of our Canadian Horned Larks, and 
the darkest and reddest in colour, with underparts usually showing faintly yellow below 
the black gorget. 
The differences between some of these races is not very marked and 
even the expert must have an ample series of specimens for comparison 
before making decisive identification. The differences may not average 
more than half an inch in total length, even in characteristic birds of 
comparable age and sex. Intermediates are common and individual 
