Lark Sparrow

Description:

A sparrow distinguished by its facial markings and a dark dot on its chest. This one is a one year old ( hasn't developed the chestnut cheeks yet).

Habitat:

Spotted in sagebrush grasslands at the Whiskey Dick Wildlife Area. Lark Sparrows select grassland habitat with a scattered shrub layer. They are often found at the edge between grasslands and shrub lands, in degraded shrub-steppe, or in open forests and grasslands.

Notes:

By mid-July, adults and recently fledged young form small, loose flocks. Lark Sparrows forage while walking out in the open. When flushed, Lark Sparrows will fly long distances, much farther than most sparrows, indicating that they may not be highly territorial, they have large territories, or they are not packed very tightly on the breeding grounds. During the breeding season, males sing from perches within their territories, from the ground, and even in flight. They display on the ground to attract females, strutting back and forth with tails spread and wings drooped. During copulation, the male will pass a twig to the female.