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Platte River Status: An abundant permanent resident, especially in the western half of the study area.

Breeding Range: An abundant nesting species in the Sandhills and on the Western Plain; common locally on the Dissected Plain and western half of the Platte River Valley. Uncommon and local on the Eastern Plain and in the eastern half of the Platte River Valley. The striking difference in distribution depicted in the figure points out the impact of extensive development of corn production on this species.

Breeding Population: The population in 1979-1980 was estimated at 87,500 breeding pairs. Horned lark was the twelfth most abundant nesting species on the study area, making up 3.0% of the total breeding bird numbers.

Habitat: We found the highest mean nesting densities on upland prairie (6.2 pairs/km²), followed by wheat (2.5 pairs/km²), alfalfa (0.5 pairs/km²), corn (0.5 pairs/km²), and wet prairie (0.2 pairs/km²). The preference for nesting on barren grasslands by horned larks has long been observed (Hayden 1863; Bendire 1895). Kantrud and Kologiski (1982) found that heavily grazed native grasslands supported the highest mean breeding densities on the northern Great Plains; densities were highest under heavy grazing and lowest under light grazing. Kantrud and Kologiski reported that blue grama, buffalograss, Sandberg bluegrass and plains pricklypear occurred with greater than average frequency on grassland census plots supporting highest nesting densities of horned lark. Graber and Graber (1963) reported a density of 374.5 birds per km² from Illinois plowed fields, and 80.5 birds per km² from cornfields.

Effect of Habitat Alteration: Loss of native grasslands has had a negative impact on this species. Stewart (1975) stated that horned lark has successfully adapted to nesting in agricultural fields, particularly stubble fields, bare cultivated fields, and fields with newly sprouted grain and other crops. Our distribution data suggest that horned lark is largely absent from extensive areas in the eastern half of the study area where corn is the principal agricultural crop in the uplands. We suggest that although horned lark is attracted to barren fields, the timing of planting crops (especially corn) has impacted the nesting activity of this species, because the normal cycle is interrupted by rapidly growing agricultural crops. Graber and Graber (1963) observed a dramatic increase in the horned lark nesting population in Illinois between 1909 and 1957. Most change was due to apparent shifts in habitat preference from native grassland in 1909 to plowed fields in 1957.

Nesting Data: We have confirmed records of six nests with eggs and young from the study area. Tout (1947) reported a nest with eggs in Lincoln County on 4 May; nearly fledged young were found in another nest on 14 June. Stewart (1975) stated that extreme egg dates in North Dakota extend from 7 April to 10 July. Kansas egg dates are from 11 March to 10 June (Johnsgard 1979).