When do horned larks arrive in Alaska?
The Horned Lark is a summer breeder in Alaska — here is when to expect it, when it leaves, and how to be ready.
Horned Lark timing in Alaska
- Arrives
- Around February
- Leaves
- By August
- Status here
- Summer breeder
- Nesting season
- March–July
- Present roughly
- February–August
In Alaska, horned larks are present through the warm months, arriving around February and heading south again by August.
These windows are set by latitude: Alaska sits in the northern part of this species' range, so timing here runs later than the continental average — the season starts later this far north and the birds wait for it. In any given year, weather can move the first arrivals by a week or two either way.
Month by month in this state
Highlighted months are when horned larks are expected in Alaska. The edges of the window are the interesting weeks — first arrivals and last departures vary most from year to year.
Getting ready before they arrive
The week before February is the time to act. Have feeders cleaned, filled and out by early February — the first horned larks into Alaska are scouting for reliable food, and a station that's ready early gets added to their route.
Once nesting begins around March, adults switch to protein-rich food for their young and visits to feeders become quick and purposeful. Expect the busiest activity at dawn.
What horned larks eat while they're here
- Grasshoppers, beetles and caterpillars
The bird of bare fields, airports and roadsides; one of the earliest nesters, sometimes in February.
Full Horned Lark diet guide → · Best feeder for horned larks →
Native plants that hold horned larks in Alaska
Food keeps a migrant for a day; habitat keeps it for the season. These Alaska-native plants are known to attract horned larks:
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Catkin seed for redpolls on the tundra.
Tall magenta spikes are a key northern hummingbird flower.
Keep exploring
Frequently asked
When do horned larks arrive in Alaska?
horned larks typically arrive in Alaska around February, with nesting underway by March. Timing can shift a week or two with the weather in any given year.
When do horned larks leave Alaska?
Most horned larks have left Alaska by August. They spend the winter farther south and return the following spring.
Do horned larks stay in Alaska all year?
No — in Alaska the Horned Lark is a summer breeder, present roughly February–August. Outside that window it is rarely seen in the state.
What should I put out before horned larks arrive in Alaska?
Have feeders up and clean by early February — first arrivals scout reliable food sources. Good offerings for this species: grasshoppers, beetles and caterpillars.
Sources
- Horned Lark — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Horned Lark life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Horned Lark — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Alaska
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.