British Columbia · Summer breeder

Horned Larks in British Columbia

When horned larks are present in British Columbia, when they nest, which native British Columbia plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 1a–9a yard.

Larks (Alaudidae)Horned LarkEremophila alpestris

Status in British Columbia: Summer breeder
Nesting window: March–July
Broods: 1–3 per season
Hardiness zones: Canada 1a–9a

When to expect horned larks in British Columbia

Horned Larks are summer residents in British Columbia, arriving shortly before nesting begins in March and leaving after the young are independent.

Temperate rainforest on the coast, dry interior valleys and mountains, and boreal forest in the northeast.

Nesting in British Columbia

Across British Columbia, horned larks typically nest from March–July. Plan around that window: February for setup, July for clean-out.

Dry, warm coastal summers; hot in the Okanagan.

Horned Larks don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, rabbitbrush, willow (bebb) for nest sites.
Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Native British Columbia plants that attract horned larks

Of the regional native plants we track for British Columbia, these 8 provide food or cover horned larks use:

Wild bergamot

Monarda fistulosa · Perennial

Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.

Black-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta · Perennial

Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.

Common sunflower

Helianthus annuus · Perennial

Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed.

Paper birch

Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

Rocky Mountain bee plant

Cleome serrulata · Perennial

Nectar-rich in summer, seed for finches in fall.

Rabbitbrush

Ericameria nauseosa · Shrub

Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.

Willow (Bebb)

Salix bebbiana · Shrub

Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.

Dwarf birch

Betula glandulosa · Shrub

Catkin seed for redpolls on the tundra.

Feeding horned larks through the British Columbia year

Top foods: Cracked corn, Millet (on bare ground).
In British Columbia's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.

Full diet breakdown for horned larks · Best feeder for horned larks

Frequently asked

Are horned larks in British Columbia year-round?

No. Horned Larks are summer breeders in British Columbia and leave for the winter.

When do horned larks nest in British Columbia?

Nesting in British Columbia typically runs March–July, with 1–3 per season. Clutches are 2–5 eggs, incubated for 10–12 days.

What native plants attract horned larks in British Columbia?

Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, Paper birch, Rocky Mountain bee plant, Rabbitbrush, Willow (Bebb), Dwarf birch are native plants in British Columbia that provide food or cover for horned larks.

Other backyard birds in British Columbia

Black-capped Chickadee Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren House Finch Purple Finch Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Red-winged Blackbird Rose-breasted Grosbeak Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Common Redpoll Gray Catbird Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Steller's Jay Black-billed Magpie Canada Jay Mountain Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Pygmy Nuthatch Anna's Hummingbird Black-chinned Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird Cassin's Finch Spotted Towhee California Quail Western Bluebird Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe Bewick's Wren White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Varied Thrush Violet-green Swallow Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Bullock's Oriole Eurasian Collared-Dove American Crow Common Raven Cooper's Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Barred Owl Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Wood Duck Mallard Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Brown-headed Cowbird Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Winter Wren Pine Grosbeak Red Crossbill Gray Catbird Western Tanager Lark Sparrow Clark's Nutcracker Western Screech-Owl Hooded Merganser Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Black-and-white Warbler Ovenbird Yellow-breasted Chat Orange-crowned Warbler Palm Warbler Red-eyed Vireo Warbling Vireo Least Flycatcher Western Kingbird Cliff Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Barn Owl Lewis's Woodpecker Black-backed Woodpecker American Three-toed Woodpecker White-headed Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Common Redpoll Hoary Redpoll White-winged Crossbill Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch Bohemian Waxwing Bobolink Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Rusty Blackbird Rock Pigeon

Sources

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.