Colorado State Bird: Lark Bunting
Fact-checked • Updated January 15, 2025
Colorado State Bird – Lark Bunting
Colorado designated the Lark Bunting as its official state bird in 1931 after schoolchildren supported the choice in a statewide vote. Males shift from brown winter plumage to black and white breeding colors in spring. Birds deliver flight songs over eastern plains. Populations remain tied to shortgrass prairie across the region.
Why Colorado Chose the Lark Bunting as the State Bird
Colorado schoolchildren picked the Lark Bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys) as the state bird in 1931. The Colorado General Assembly approved the designation on April 29, 1931, and the governor signed the measure into law the same day.
Students across Colorado voted for the Lark Bunting over other prairie birds. The male's striking black and white breeding plumage drew strong support. Its musical flight song impressed both teachers and students.
This prairie songbird lives on Colorado's eastern plains during breeding season. The shortgrass prairie covering eastern Colorado provides ideal habitat. Lark Buntings nested in very large numbers across these plains in the early 1900s.
Early settlers reported seeing huge migrating flocks. Ranchers watched males perform their flight songs above homesteads each spring. The bird came to represent the wide-open prairie landscapes stretching from the Rocky Mountains to Kansas.
History of Adoption: Legislation & Timeline
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Pre-1870s — Native Prairie Period
Cheyenne and Arapaho peoples lived alongside Lark Buntings on the Colorado plains. The birds nested in short buffalo grass across millions of acres. Native peoples noted the males' singing flights each spring.
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1870-1920 — Settlement Era
Homesteaders plowed much of the shortgrass prairie. Lark Buntings adapted to wheat fields and cattle pastures and remained common through this period. Ranch families often saw males performing flight displays above grasslands.
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1929 — First State Bird Discussion
Colorado Audubon Society proposed choosing a state bird. Suggested species included the Mountain Bluebird, Lark Bunting, and Western Meadowlark. No legislative action followed.
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1931 — School Vote Campaign
The Colorado Federation of Women's Clubs organized a statewide school vote. Students in Denver, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and rural eastern plains schools participated. The Lark Bunting won by a wide margin.
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April 29, 1931 — Official Designation
The legislature passed a bill recognizing the Lark Bunting as the state bird. The governor signed it the same day, making the designation official.
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Current Law
State law designates the lark bunting as the official state bird of Colorado.
Symbolism & Cultural Meaning
Eastern Plains Heritage
The Lark Bunting represents Colorado's eastern plains, which cover nearly 40 percent of the state. It symbolizes the quiet beauty of prairie landscapes east of the Rockies.
Transformation and Change
Each spring males molt from brown to vivid black and white plumage. This transformation mirrors Colorado's seasonal shift from winter to spring.
Prairie Conservation Symbol
Lark Buntings depend on healthy shortgrass prairie. The bird highlights the need to protect remaining grasslands important to both wildlife and ranching.
Agricultural Connection
Ranchers and farmers often see Lark Buntings during breeding season. The species thrives on working rangelands when grazing practices support native grasses.
Physical Characteristics
Male Breeding Plumage (April-August)
Jet black plumage with large white wing patches. Thick blue-gray bill during breeding season. Black legs and feet. The bold contrast makes males easy to identify on prairie grasslands.
Male Non-Breeding Plumage (September-March)
Brown streaked back and crown with buff underparts. White wing patches remain but appear softer. Looks similar to the female outside breeding season.
Female Plumage Year-Round
Brown streaked upperparts and buff underparts with fine streaking. Faint white wing patches. Short conical bill adapted for seed eating. Camouflage helps protect ground nests.
Size and Build
Stocky body larger than most sparrows. Strong conical bill for cracking seeds. Short tail with white outer feathers. Wings adapted for quick, low bursts of flight.
Behavior & Habits
The Flight Song Display
Males rise 20 to 30 feet above the prairie while singing a complex warbling song. They hover or glide slowly with vibrating wings before diving back to perch. This display attracts females and defends territory.
Daily Activity Pattern
Lark Buntings feed on the ground from dawn to dusk. They walk rather than hop while searching for food. Flocks form outside breeding season. Birds rest during midday heat and roost on the ground.
Diet Throughout the Year
Spring-Summer: Grasshoppers, beetles, caterpillars, spiders, and seeds. Fall-Winter: Primarily seeds from grasses and weeds. Chicks eat mostly insects during their first week.
Breeding Behavior
Males return to breeding grounds in April and establish territories of one to four acres. Females arrive shortly after. Nests are built on the ground in grass clumps. Clutch size is usually 4–5 pale blue eggs. Incubation lasts 11–12 days. Both parents feed the chicks.
Habitat & Conservation in Colorado
Where to Find Lark Buntings in Colorado
Eastern plains grasslands from the Wyoming border to New Mexico. Notable areas include Pawnee National Grassland and Comanche National Grassland. Most common in Weld, Logan, and Yuma counties.
Perfect Lark Bunting Habitat in Colorado
Shortgrass prairie dominated by blue grama and buffalo grass. Sparse shrubs for perching. Open ground between grass clumps for foraging.
Migration Patterns
Lark Buntings breed in Colorado from April to August. They migrate to Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico in fall. Some winter in far southeast Colorado. Migration occurs in large flocks.
Conservation Status and Population Trends
Globally listed as Least Concern but showing steady decline. Colorado numbers have dropped about 3–4 percent annually since the 1960s. Overall population decreased by more than 50 percent over the past 50 years.
Threats to Lark Buntings in Colorado
Habitat conversion to cropland. Reduction of insect prey from pesticide use. Invasive plants like cheatgrass. Prairie fragmentation from energy development. Drought impacts on breeding success.
How to Help Lark Buntings in Colorado
- Support grassland conservation programs
- Visit Pawnee and Comanche National Grasslands
- Choose grass-fed beef from ranches that maintain prairie
- Plant native shortgrass species where appropriate
- Support policies that protect Colorado grasslands
- Report sightings to eBird during breeding season
- Use fewer pesticides on agricultural lands
Interesting Facts About Colorado's Lark Bunting
Fact 1 of 15
Colorado is the only state with the Lark Bunting as its official bird
Lark Bunting Songs & Calls
Hear the clear whistles and sharp calls of the Lark Bunting. These field recordings capture their distinctive voice in natural habitat.
Audio licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Sources & References
This article has been researched using authoritative sources to ensure accuracy and reliability. All information has been fact-checked and verified against official government records and scientific databases.
Official Colorado law designating the Lark Bunting as state bird. • Accessed: November 30, 2025
Species information including identification, behavior, and trends. • Accessed: November 30, 2025
Field guide information, conservation notes, and range maps. • Accessed: November 30, 2025
Article covering taxonomy, distribution, and general species information. • Accessed: November 30, 2025
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