Watercolor portrait of Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris)

Horned Lark

Eremophila alpestris
Year-round resident through much of the… Short-grass prairies, plowed fields, pas… Common Flight Song

Learn to identify the Horned Lark by ear. Master the "tsee-tsee-tsee titu titu tita-tita" phrase and tell it apart from similar species.

“tsee-tsee-tsee titu titu tita-tita”

What the Horned Lark sounds like

The Horned Lark is a small, ground-dwelling songbird of wide-open spaces, named for the tiny black feather tufts (“horns”) that adorn the male’s crown in breeding plumage. Sandy-brown above and pale below, it sports a yellow throat and face bordered by a crisp black mask and breast-band. Adapted to life on the ground, it walks rather than hops and often blends seamlessly with the soil and stubble it frequents.

“tsee-tsee-tsee titu titu tita-tita”

How to tell it apart

Listen for:A sweet, tinkling series given during fluttering, skylark-like display flights high above the ground. Often written as “tsee-tsee-tsee titu titu tita-tita”.
Don't confuse with:The American Pipit — lacks horns and facial mask

Where you'll hear it

Short-grass prairies, plowed fields, pastures, deserts, alpine tundra, beaches, airport runways and other sparsely vegetated expanses across the Northern Hemisphere.

Begins courtship in late winter; nests on the ground from March through July, often raising two broods. Forms large, loose flocks outside the breeding season, sometimes mixing with longspurs and buntings.

Similar species

American Pipit

Lacks horns and facial mask

Snow Bunting

Bulkier with large white wing patches

Lapland Longspur

Dark chestnut nape and white outer tail but streaked back

Horned Lark song FAQ

What does a Horned Lark sound like?
A sweet, tinkling series given during fluttering, skylark-like display flights high above the ground. Listen for the "tsee-tsee-tsee titu titu tita-tita" phrase.
How do I tell a Horned Lark from a American Pipit by sound?
American Pipit: Lacks horns and facial mask; Constantly pumps tail while walking; Has thin eyeline and buffy underparts without a breast band.
When is the best time to hear a Horned Lark?
Begins courtship in late winter; nests on the ground from March through July, often raising two broods. Forms large, loose flocks outside the breeding season, sometimes mixing with longspurs and buntings.