Lark Bunting

1/320s at f8.0, ISO:800, Canon Mark III 1Ds w/800mm, 1.4x converter


Their breeding habitat is prairie regions in central Canada and the mid-western United States. The nest is an open cup on the ground in a grassy area. These birds migrate in flocks to southern Texas and Mexico. 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. These birds nest in dispersed colonies. 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. This bird\'s numbers have decreased with the loss of natural prairie habitat. This is the state bird of Colorado.
Pawnee National Grassland, CO
 
06/10/2010