Lark Buntings
Buntings ... American Sparrows ... Old World Sparrows
The Lark Bunting, Calamospiza melanocorys, is a medium-sized sparrow. It is the only member of the genus Calamospiza (Bonaparte, 1838). This is the state bird of Colorado.
Description
These birds have a small gray bill and a white wing patch.
Adult males in breeding plumage are black except for their white wing patch.
Females and immature birds are more sparrow-like in appearance; they have dark brown upperparts and white underparts, with streaking on the back, breast and flanks. The wings are dark with brown edges.
Distribution
Their breeding habitat is prairie regions in central Canada and the mid-western United States. These birds migrate in flocks to southern Texas and Mexico.
This bird's numbers have decreased with the loss of natural prairie habitat.
Nesting / Breeding
The nest is an open cup on the ground in a grassy area. These birds nest in dispersed colonies
Diet / Feeding
They forage on the ground, mainly eating insects in summer and seeds in winter; they sometimes take short flights in pursuit of insects. Outside of the nesting season, they often feed in flocks.
Calls / Vocalizations
Males fly up over their territory and sing while descending to declare ownership of a nesting territory. The song consists of a mix of whistles and trills. The call is a soft hoo.
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