Colorado State Bird
Lark Bunting (common name)  Calamospiza melanocorys (scientific name) Overview The lark bunting is a medium-sized migratory sparrow. It was adopted as the official state bird by Colorado in 1931 and is an annual visitor to the state, migrating into the plains in large numbers in April, then returning south in September. The male is black with white wing patches, wing edges, and outer tail feathers. The female is gray-brown with a white belly with dusky streaks. Song consists of a mix of whistles, trills, and a "hoo" sound. The lark bunting forages on the ground, mainly eating insects in summer and seeds in winter. The nest is an open cup on the ground in a grassy area. Close-up STATUS Official ALSO KNOWN AS Alaska longspur, common longspur, Lapland bunting, Lapland lark bunting, Lapland longspur, Lapland snowbird PHYSICAL DETAILS  Male Female  Size Length to end of tail: 5.5-7.1 in (14-18 cm) Wing from flexure: 11 in (28 cm) Length of tail: 7 in (17 cm) Length to end of tail: 5-7 in (12-17 cm) Wing from flexure: 9 in (22 cm) Length of tail: 6.5 in (16.5 cm)  Weight 1.1-1.8 oz (30-50 g) 1.1-1.8 oz (30-50 g) BEHAVIOR Forages on the ground, avoiding the cover of trees or bushes. Males will fly upwards over their territory and then dive while singing to declare their nesting territory. The bird is highly gregarious during migration. HABITAT Breeds on plains, short-grass prairies, meadows and sagebrush flats in areas up to 8,000 feet in elevation. Winters on cultivated lands or in brushy areas, desert, or open areas in America's southeastern lowlands. Range: Breeds on the prairies of south-central Canada and the central United States and winters in the American southwest and northern Mexico. Migration: Migrates north in late April and May. Fall migration begins in September for adults and later for younger birds. The species migrates in flocks that can number in the thousands. Conservation status: Surveys show a significant decline over the past 30 years, although the bird is not listed as threatened. NESTING Nesting Period: mid-May through mid-July Size of Clutch: 2-6 eggs Incubation Period: 11-12 days Egg Description: Light blue Egg Size: 0.9 in (22 mm) SIMILAR SPECIES Bobolink, chestnut-collared bunting, McCown's bunting TRIVIA In winter the male bird's white patches change to a gray-brown like the female bird.  The male bird has a spectacular courtship flight during which he sings a distinctive warbling mating song.
	Click to enlarge an image Male Lark Bunting Female Lark Bunting Lark Bunting Distribution Map (pdf) CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Emberizidae Genus: Calamospiza Species: C. melanocorys
	Author: World Trade Press