Newfoundland and Labrador · Summer breeder

Horned Larks in Newfoundland and Labrador

When horned larks are present in Newfoundland and Labrador, when they nest, which native Newfoundland and Labrador plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 0a–6b yard.

Larks (Alaudidae)Horned LarkEremophila alpestris

Status in Newfoundland and Labrador: Summer breeder
Nesting window: March–July
Broods: 1–3 per season
Hardiness zones: Canada 0a–6b

When to expect horned larks in Newfoundland and Labrador

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

Cool maritime on the island of Newfoundland; subarctic in Labrador.

Nesting in Newfoundland and Labrador

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

Cool summers; nesting often starts in June.

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

Native Newfoundland and Labrador plants that attract horned larks

Of the regional native plants we track for Newfoundland and Labrador, these 5 provide food or cover horned larks use:

Paper birch

Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

Red maple

Acer rubrum · Tree

Among the first spring bloomers; early insects for returning migrants.

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.

Fireweed

Chamaenerion angustifolium · Perennial

Tall magenta spikes are a key northern hummingbird flower.

Feeding horned larks through the Newfoundland and Labrador year

Top foods: Cracked corn, Millet (on bare ground).
In Newfoundland and Labrador'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 Newfoundland and Labrador year-round?

No. Horned Larks are summer breeders in Newfoundland and Labrador and leave for the winter.

When do horned larks nest in Newfoundland and Labrador?

Nesting in Newfoundland and Labrador 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 Newfoundland and Labrador?

Paper birch, Red maple, Willow (Bebb), Dwarf birch, Fireweed are native plants in Newfoundland and Labrador that provide food or cover for horned larks.

Other backyard birds in Newfoundland and Labrador

Black-capped Chickadee Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch Purple Finch American Robin Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Rose-breasted Grosbeak Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Common Redpoll Gray Catbird Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Eastern Phoebe Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Canada Jay White-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Common Raven Sharp-shinned Hawk Barred Owl Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Mallard Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Scarlet Tanager Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Winter Wren Pine Grosbeak Red Crossbill Gray Catbird Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Black-and-white Warbler Ovenbird Orange-crowned Warbler Palm Warbler Red-eyed Vireo Warbling Vireo Eastern Wood-Pewee Least Flycatcher Cliff Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Eastern Whip-poor-will Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper American Woodcock Osprey Bald Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Black-backed Woodpecker American Three-toed Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Snow Bunting Common Redpoll Hoary Redpoll White-winged Crossbill Bohemian Waxwing Bobolink 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.