Nunavut · Summer breeder

Horned Larks in Nunavut

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

Larks (Alaudidae)Horned LarkEremophila alpestris
Status in Nunavut
Summer breeder
Nesting window
March–July
Broods
1–3 per season
Hardiness zones
Canada 0a

When to expect horned larks in Nunavut

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

Arctic tundra across the mainland and Arctic Archipelago.

Nesting in Nunavut

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

A few weeks of summer thaw when tundra birds nest.

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

Native Nunavut plants that attract horned larks

Of the regional native plants we track for Nunavut, these 4 provide food or cover horned larks use:

Paper birch
Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

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 Nunavut year

  • Top foods: Cracked corn, Millet (on bare ground).
  • In Nunavut'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 Nunavut year-round?

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

When do horned larks nest in Nunavut?

Nesting in Nunavut 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 Nunavut?

Paper birch, Willow (Bebb), Dwarf birch, Fireweed are native plants in Nunavut that provide food or cover for horned larks.

Horned Larks in other regions

Other backyard birds in Nunavut

Sources

  1. Horned Lark — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Horned Lark life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Horned Lark — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
  4. eBird region overview and bar charts — Nunavut
  5. Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
  6. 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.