Horned Lark (Shore Lark)

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Horned Lark (Shore Lark) in the UK

A scarce winter visitor from Scandinavia, known in Britain as Shore Lark. Numbers swing widely. Around 100 birds arrive in a typical winter, a few hundred in a good one, and in poor years it can be very hard to find. Almost all are on the east coasts of England and Scotland. It has bred in the UK only twice, in the Scottish Highlands in 1977 and 2003. The species is on the Amber list. No UK trend is available because so few birds are involved.

Where and when to see a Horned Lark (Shore Lark)

The coast from Northumberland to Kent between October and April. North Norfolk is the most reliable area, with Holkham Gap the classic site, and the Lincolnshire, Suffolk and Yorkshire coasts also get birds. Look on the upper beach, along the strandline, on shingle ridges and on the seaward edge of saltmarsh. Birds creep along with their bellies close to the ground and are easy to walk past. They often feed with Snow Buntings.

Habitat, diet and field notes

Habitat: Coastal saltmarsh (winter).
Diet: Seeds, invertebrates.
Field note: Yellow face, black mask.

How to identify a Horned Lark (Shore Lark)

Slightly smaller and slimmer than a Skylark, with no crest. The face is the feature: pale yellow with a black mask through the eye and a black band across the upper breast. Upperparts are sandy pink-brown and the belly is white. In flight the tail looks black with a paler centre. Males in spring grow two thin black 'horns' at the sides of the crown. Winter birds are duller, with the yellow and black partly hidden by pale feather tips.

Call and song

Quiet in winter. The flight call is a thin, high 'tsee' or 'tsee-ree', more like a pipit than a Skylark, and is easily lost in wind and surf. Heard something you cannot place? Bird Hear identifies UK birds from a 10 second recording, free in your browser.

Confusion species

• Eurasian Skylark: Skylark is streaked brown with a short crest, white outer tail feathers and no yellow or black on the face.
• Snow Bunting: Snow Bunting, often in the same flock, shows big white wing panels in flight and has an orange-buff face with no mask.
• Lapland Bunting: Lapland Bunting has a chestnut wing panel, a streaked back and a rattling 'ticky-tick' flight call.

Related guide Bird migration in Britain.

Conservation status and Birdedex points

In the Birdedex the Horned Lark (Shore Lark) is a Rare tier bird, worth +8 points when you log one. It is not on the Red or Amber lists in Birds of Conservation Concern 5. It is protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, so it is an offence to disturb it at or near the nest. We blur the location of every sighting of this species.

Recent UK sightings

Similar birds

• Greater ScaupRare · Coastal bays (winter)
• Lapland BuntingRare · Coastal stubbles (winter)
• Long-tailed DuckRare · Coastal seas (winter)
• Red-necked GrebeRare · Coastal seas (winter)
• Rough-legged BuzzardRare · Coastal grassland (winter)
• Snow BuntingRare · Mountain tops; coastal beaches (winter)

Horned Lark (Shore Lark): quick answers

Where can I see a Shore Lark in the UK?

North Norfolk in midwinter is the best bet, especially the beach and saltmarsh at Holkham. Check local bird news first, because flocks move around and some winters bring very few. Go at low to mid tide when the upper shore is undisturbed.

What does a Shore Lark eat?

In winter, seeds of saltmarsh and strandline plants, plus small invertebrates from washed-up seaweed. On its breeding grounds in the mountains and tundra of the north it feeds chicks on insects.

Is the Shore Lark rare in the UK?

It is scarce and local. Only around 100 reach Britain in a typical winter. Away from the east coast it is rare, and inland birds are exceptional.

Kit that helps

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