Horned Lark

Eremophila alpestris

General Status Rank: 
Secure
ELCODE: 
ABPAT02010
Common Name: 
Horned Lark
Scientific Name: 
Eremophila alpestris
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Bird
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Aves
Order: 
Passeriformes
Family: 
Alaudidae
References: 
B004
General Biology

Economic/Human Considerations

Non-game species
References: 
H129
Habitat
open terrain; nest on ground in dry areas
References: 
B004
H129
Distribution

Ecozones

Arctic Cordillera, Northern Arctic, Southern Arctic, Taiga Cordillera, Taiga Plains, Taiga Shield, Boreal Cordillera
References: 
B004

Distribution

(164-50)/164(70%); about 95% (LWB02); Range extent is all of mainland NWT and many of the northern islands estimated from range map (Canadian Wildlife Service – Prairie & Northern Region 2009. Bird distributions in Nunavut & the Northwest Territories: 2009 Review.)
Score: 
G
References: 
B004
LWB02
Winter Distribution Description: 
southern Canada southward

Number of Occurrences

More than 100
References: 
H126

Historical Distribution

Likely similar to current dist.
References: 
H129

Area of Occupancy

Stable, need data to confirm trend
Score: 
-
References: 
LWR01
LWR02
Population

Population Size

PIF population estimate for NWT & NU = 3,000 for BCRs other than BCR 3. PIF population estimate for NWT & NU = 13,000,000 for BCR 3. (DD16) No data from PRISM for NWT, but NU estimated pop = 1,400,000. Estimated population for NWT not very accurate, so large range used. (Canadian Wildlife Service – Prairie & Northern Region 2009. Interim Arctic PRISM results. Unpublished Data.)
Score: 
EH
References: 
LA01
DD16
Trends

Trends

National trend stable now but have shown significant declines over the past 30 years, need to confirm for the North
References: 
LWR01
LWR02
Threats

Threats

Little human disturbance. Magnitude of the threats from climate change hard to predict. Overall, threats are thought to be low for this species currently.
Score: 
C
References: 
H129

Intrinsic Vulnerability

Limited effects of climate change likely in next 10 yrs
Score: 
-
References: 
H129
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Secure
Status Rank Description: 
Likely secure population due to extensive range across NWT. Wide range of population estimates makes it difficult to use an accurate population size for the calculation, but likely secure. No trends are available for this species.
S Rank: 
S4S5
Decision Process Description: 
Drafted by Leslie Wakelyn and S. Carriere mostly based on printed material in 2000. Reviewed in 2005 by ENR.; Reviewed in 2010;no change
Last Updated: 
February 4, 2015

References

Area of Occupancy

  • Downes, C.M., E.H. Dunn and C.M Francis (2000) Canadian Landbird Monitoring Strategy: monitoring needs and priorities into the new millenium.. Partners in Flight - Canada A 9-15 EC-CWS, Yellowknife (L. Wakelyn) - or communicate with Erica H. Dunn, CWS in Hull, QC, at erica.dunn@ec,gc,ca - LWR01 Return
  • Downes, C.M., E.H. Dunn and C.M Francis (2000) Canadian Landbird Monitoring Strategy: monitoring needs and priorities into the new millenium. - New trend analyses - Addendum to the strategy. Partners in Flight - Canada EC-CWS, Yellowknife (L. Wakelyn) - or communicate with Erica H. Dunn, CWS in Hull, QC, at erica.dunn@ec,gc,ca - LWR02 Return

Economic Status

  • Wakelyn, Leslie (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife biologist, CWS, Yellowknife - H129 Return

Ecozones

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Habitat

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return
  • Wakelyn, Leslie (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife biologist, CWS, Yellowknife - H129 Return

Historical Distribution

  • Wakelyn, Leslie (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife biologist, CWS, Yellowknife - H129 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • Wakelyn, Leslie (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife biologist, CWS, Yellowknife - H129 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return

Population Size

Rich, T.D., Beardmore, C.J., Berlanga, H., Blancher, P.J., Bradstreet, M.S.W., Butcher, G.S., Demarest, D.W Dunn, E.H., Hunter, W.C., Inigo-Elias, E.E., Kennedy, J.A., Martell, A.M., Panjabi, A.O.,et al. (2004) Partners in Flight North American Landbird Conservation Plan (janv-04). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithica, NY http://www.partnersinflight.org/cont_plan/default.htm - LA01 Return
,
Partners in Flight Science Committee 2013. Population Estimates Database, version 2013. Available at http://rmbo.org/pifpopestimates. Accessed on <January 25, 2015>. (2013) http://rmbo.org/pifpopestimates - DD16 Return

Range Extent

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return
  • National Geographic Society (1999) Field Guide to the Birds of North America.. National Geographic Society Third Edition EC-CWS, Yellowknife - LWB02 Return

Short Term Trends

  • Downes, C.M., E.H. Dunn and C.M Francis (2000) Canadian Landbird Monitoring Strategy: monitoring needs and priorities into the new millenium.. Partners in Flight - Canada A 9-15 EC-CWS, Yellowknife (L. Wakelyn) - or communicate with Erica H. Dunn, CWS in Hull, QC, at erica.dunn@ec,gc,ca - LWR01 Return
  • Downes, C.M., E.H. Dunn and C.M Francis (2000) Canadian Landbird Monitoring Strategy: monitoring needs and priorities into the new millenium. - New trend analyses - Addendum to the strategy. Partners in Flight - Canada EC-CWS, Yellowknife (L. Wakelyn) - or communicate with Erica H. Dunn, CWS in Hull, QC, at erica.dunn@ec,gc,ca - LWR02 Return

Taxonomy

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Threats

  • Wakelyn, Leslie (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife biologist, CWS, Yellowknife - H129 Return