Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) is in the Larks family (Alaudidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 18,356 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in February.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Horned Lark: observations by month (U.S.)
About Horned Lark
The horned lark (Eremophila alpestris), called the shore lark in Europe, is a species of lark in the Alaudidae family found across the northern hemisphere.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Horned Lark by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 4,673 | April | Jan–Jun |
| Colorado | 1,572 | June | Mar–Aug |
| Texas | 836 | April | Nov–Aug |
| Ohio | 716 | February | Dec–Feb |
| Arizona | 701 | March | Oct–Aug |
| Washington | 659 | July | Jan–Sep |
| Utah | 633 | May | Feb–Jul |
| Oregon | 610 | July | Jan–Jul |
| Massachusetts | 605 | January | Dec–Apr |
| New York | 513 | February | Nov–Mar |
| New Mexico | 454 | April | Nov–Aug |
| Maryland | 394 | January | Dec–May |
| Montana | 379 | June | May–Jul |
| Illinois | 361 | January | Oct–Apr |
| Michigan | 357 | February | Dec–Jun |
| Idaho | 352 | March | Jan–Jul |
| Nevada | 342 | March | Jan–Oct |
| Minnesota | 316 | March | Feb–Apr |
| Pennsylvania | 315 | February | Dec–Mar |
| Wyoming | 283 | June | Mar–Aug |
| Wisconsin | 265 | February | Jan–Mar |
| South Dakota | 238 | June | Apr–Sep |
| Vermont | 233 | February | Jan–Mar |
| Connecticut | 207 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Kansas | 196 | April | Feb–Jul |
| Tennessee | 186 | January | Dec–Feb |
| Delaware | 183 | January | Dec–Mar |
| Missouri | 178 | February | Nov–May |
| Virginia | 169 | January | Dec–Jun |
| New Jersey | 162 | February | Dec–Feb |
| Oklahoma | 155 | April | Feb–Apr |
| Nebraska | 138 | June | Mar–Jul |
| Indiana | 137 | February | Nov–Feb |
| New Hampshire | 135 | January | Dec–Feb |
| North Dakota | 115 | March | Feb–Aug |
| Maine | 85 | March | Sep–Mar |
| North Carolina | 71 | April | Nov–Jun |
| Alaska | 63 | June | May–Jun |
| Alabama | 62 | January | Jan–Feb |
| Rhode Island | 51 | December | Nov–Feb |
| South Carolina | 46 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Iowa | 43 | January | Dec–Mar |
| Kentucky | 43 | February | Jan–Feb |
| Louisiana | 34 | February | Feb–Mar |
| Arkansas | 24 | April | Mar–May |
| Georgia | 23 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Mississippi | 19 | December | Dec–Feb |
| Florida | 15 | January | Dec–Jan |
| West Virginia | 8 | November | Nov–Feb |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Horned Lark?
Nationally, February has the most observations, with the main season from January to December.
Where is Horned Lark most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Colorado, Texas.