Lark Bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys) is in the New World Sparrows family (Passerellidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 4,638 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Lark Bunting: observations by month (U.S.)
About Lark Bunting
The lark bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys) is a medium-sized American sparrow native to central and western North America. It is also the state bird of Colorado.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Lark Bunting by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 1,562 | December | Nov–May |
| Colorado | 1,132 | May | May–Aug |
| Arizona | 520 | January | Aug–Apr |
| New Mexico | 302 | August | Aug–Sep |
| California | 248 | September | Sep–Nov |
| South Dakota | 165 | June | May–Aug |
| Montana | 146 | June | May–Aug |
| Wyoming | 140 | June | May–Jul |
| Nebraska | 94 | May | May–Aug |
| North Dakota | 71 | June | May–Jun |
| Oklahoma | 49 | May | Apr–May |
| Kansas | 43 | May | May–May |
| Ohio | 19 | February | Feb–Feb |
| Massachusetts | 17 | September | Aug–Oct |
| New York | 17 | May | May–May |
| Utah | 17 | May | May–Jun |
| New Jersey | 13 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Illinois | 10 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Georgia | 9 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Michigan | 9 | May | May–Jun |
| Minnesota | 9 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Tennessee | 7 | November | Nov–Nov |
| Louisiana | 5 | March | Feb–Mar |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (New World Sparrows)
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
California Towhee
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 Lark Bunting?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from November to September.
Where is Lark Bunting most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Colorado, Arizona.