Description:

A very pale sandy-grey medium-sized lark with short bill, fairly long tail, and striking head pattern. Male has black-and-white head pattern, with black mask, 'horns' and band across crown. Also black breast-band and sandy upperparts with vinous cast to nape. Female is similar but mask is duller, crown and mantle are heavily streaked.

Distribution:

Common resident and altitudinal migrant in all the regions of Gilgit-Baltistan. Breeds on stony ground and alpine pastures, mainly barren terrain with very short vegetation, up to 5000m; winters in cultivation, on stony and sandy ground.

Behavior:

Forages on ground, singly or in small to large, tightly knit flocks; walks and runs. Obtains most food items directly from soil surface; occasionally digs, pursues flushed prey by running, and takes seeds directly from plants. Feeds on wide range of invertebrates particularly insects in summer. Seeds, especially small grass seeds, particularly important in winter, when may comprise entire diet.

Photo Gallery:

Range & Occurrence:

Resident Species

Summer Breeder

Winter Visitor

Passage Migrant

Distribution Map of Horned Lark in Gilgit-Baltistan (Status: )

Seasonal Occurrence of Horned Lark

Resources:

Birds of Pakistan: Helm Field Guides (R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
The Birds of Pakistan (T. J. Roberts)
Birds of the Indian Subcontinent (C. Inskipp, R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide (P. Rasmussen & J. Anderton)
Birds of India: Collins Field Guide (N. Arlott)
Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan (S. Ali & S. D. Ripley)
Handbook of the Birds of the World (https://www.hbw.com)
The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 6th Edition
iNaturalist BoGB (inaturalist.org/projects/birds-of-gilgit-baltistan)
Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan (http://fb.me/birdsgb)

*Gallery images on this page are shared from flickr.com, and are copyrighted to their respective creators or owners.