# Lark Sparrow

*Chondestes grammacus*

Unlike most sparrows that hop to get around, the Lark Sparrow walks on the ground with a distinct, quail-like gait.

- **Taxonomy:** Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Passerellidae › Chondestes
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** decreasing
- **Biome:** grassland
- **Habitat:** Open landscapes including prairies, grasslands, and savanna-like edges with scattered trees or shrubs.
- **Diet:** Omnivorous; primarily eats seeds and grains, but switches to insects like grasshoppers and beetles during the breeding season.
- **Range:** North America, Mexico, Southern Canada
- **Size:** Length: 15-17 cm; Wingspan: 28 cm
- **Lifespan:** 6-9 years
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Habitat loss due to intensive agriculture, overgrazing, and urban development.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless. These birds are shy and easily startled; enjoy their complex song from a distance using binoculars. If you encounter a ground nest, maintain a wide berth to avoid attracting predators or causing the parents to abandon the eggs.

## About

The lark sparrow ( Chondestes grammacus ) is a fairly large American sparrow. It is the only member of the genus Chondestes .

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/664e4b0b-9e8c-4109-b66e-2844383e32c8
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/10479
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chondestes grammacus
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/81729439/medium.jpeg (Cody Stricker, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.