Lark Sparrow Nest With Eggs Photographs, Near Skull Valley, Arizona
Photos by Greg Clark, June 12, 1999, Updated May 25, 2009 with another nest and bird photo
For the past three years I have been trying to find a nest for Lark Sparrow. Occasionally, a breeding confirmation can be made by seeing an adult carrying food. But finding the nest is a very frustrating experience. This year, during a Breeding Bird Survey for U.S Fish and Wildlife, I was driving the car while Tim did the actual survey work. During a stop,while Tim was counting birds, I saw a Lark Sparrow carrying a bug. The sparrow watched me for about two minutes and then decided to take the bug to the nest. I followed and found the other adult running on the ground a short distance from where the first adult brought the bug. After a short search I finally found the nest on the ground under a very small cholla cactus. Apparently, one adult was bringing food to the other adult sitting on the nest. Lark Sparrows have very pretty eggs compared to other sparrows.
See new nest with eggs and baby birds below.
A view of the cactus with the Lark Sparrow nest at its base. The cactus is only about 25 cm tall.
Here is an adult Lark Sparrow watching me while I am in the area of the nest. Another nest was found in the same approximate location during the same BBS route almost 10 years later to the day. The sparrow is perched on a type of cholla that grows at 5000 feet elevation.
