Horned lark, strigata subspecies COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 4

Distribution

Global range

Horned Larks are found across much of North America and in Eurasia. The breeding distribution of the Horned Lark, strigata subspecies, however, is restricted to the coastal plains of British Columbia, Washington and Oregon (Beason 1995; Fig. 1). The centre of its breeding distribution is the glacial outwash prairies of the south Puget Sound area of western Washington (Rogers 2000).  The subspecies is essentially nonmigratory, although there are winter records outside the breeding range in eastern Washington and Oregon and northern California (AOU 1957).

Figure 1.  North American distribution of the Horned Lark, strigata subspecies.

 North American distribution of the Horned Lark, strigata subspecies

Canadian range

The distribution of the Horned Lark, strigata subspecies in Canada is restricted to southwestern British Columbia (Godfrey 1986; Fig. 2) where it occurs only on southeastern Vancouver Island and in the lower Fraser River valley from Chilliwack west to the mouth of the Fraser River (Campbell et al. 1997). Breeding has not been documented on Vancouver Island or the southern Gulf Islands. However, it is possible that this subspecies did breed on the island in the past because some suitable habitat would have been available, and birds were known to occur in the area (Munro and Cowan 1947; Appendix 1). Although collection records are not from the peak breeding season, it seems unlikely that these were migrant birds, because central Vancouver Island probably represents the northern limit of suitable habitat and therefore range of this subspecies. In the lower Fraser River valley, breeding was concentrated near the mouth of the Fraser River on Sea Island, Iona Island, and Lulu Island. Other breeding localities included the University of British Columbia at Point Grey, and near Chilliwack (Campbell et al. 1997).

Figure 2.  Historic distribution of the Horned Lark, strigata subspecies in Canada.

Historic distribution of the Horned Lark, strigata subspecies in Canada

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