ROAD-SIDE BIRDS OF OPEN COUNTRY

Horned Lark.    Horned Larks are birds of the wind swept open country.  We often will see these sparrow-sized birds rise up off the edges of roads in small flocks.  When they rise up they will often flash their whitish breast as a key to help us identify them.  Horned Larks are usually found in flocks of 20 or less, and often in the dead of winter in very small flocks.  They can be confused with another open country bird -the Snow Bunting.  Snow Buntings will flash not only their white breasts, but will also flash their black and white wings.  Snow Buntings often come in larger flocks than the Horned Larks.   See photos of the Snow Buntings below.