Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) is in the New World Sparrows family (Passerellidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 25,380 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 Sparrow: observations by month (U.S.)
About Lark Sparrow
The lark sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) is a fairly large American sparrow. It is the only member of the genus Chondestes.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Lark Sparrow by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 8,135 | April | Apr–Jun |
| California | 7,656 | April | Jan–Jun |
| Arizona | 1,749 | April | Apr–May |
| Colorado | 1,354 | May | May–Aug |
| New Mexico | 707 | May | Apr–Sep |
| Utah | 596 | May | May–Aug |
| Oklahoma | 559 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Oregon | 384 | May | May–Jul |
| Nebraska | 343 | May | May–Jul |
| Kansas | 342 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Minnesota | 268 | May | May–Jun |
| South Dakota | 264 | May | May–Jul |
| Idaho | 253 | May | May–Jul |
| Washington | 238 | May | May–Jul |
| North Dakota | 231 | June | May–Aug |
| Nevada | 219 | May | Apr–Sep |
| Montana | 207 | May | May–Aug |
| Illinois | 202 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Wyoming | 170 | May | May–Jul |
| Ohio | 163 | May | May–May |
| Wisconsin | 122 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Missouri | 111 | May | Apr–May |
| Massachusetts | 105 | September | Aug–Jan |
| Louisiana | 104 | April | Apr–May |
| Florida | 95 | January | Aug–Apr |
| New York | 94 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Tennessee | 81 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Iowa | 71 | May | May–Jun |
| Alabama | 65 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Maryland | 62 | October | Sep–Dec |
| New Jersey | 57 | October | Aug–Jan |
| Arkansas | 50 | April | Apr–Jun |
| North Carolina | 35 | January | Jan–Jan |
| Michigan | 32 | May | May–Jun |
| Virginia | 32 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Georgia | 30 | October | Sep–Dec |
| Indiana | 30 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Maine | 27 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Delaware | 22 | January | Dec–Jan |
| Mississippi | 21 | April | Apr–Oct |
| Pennsylvania | 19 | January | Jan–Feb |
| Connecticut | 17 | September | Sep–Oct |
| South Carolina | 16 | January | Jan–Jan |
| Kentucky | 12 | June | Apr–Jun |
| New Hampshire | 10 | September | Aug–Sep |
| District of Columbia | 7 | November | Nov–Dec |
| Rhode Island | 7 | January | Jan–Jan |
| Alaska | 5 | August | Aug–Sep |
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 Sparrow?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to August.
Where is Lark Sparrow most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, California, Arizona.