Male Horned Lark behind boulder – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/1600, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
Normally when I see Horned Larks preening it doesn’t last very long, a car or person comes by and scares the birds off, the sound of the shutter startles it or a raptor in the sky causes it to be alarmed and it flushes.
Yesterday I found this very cooperative male Horned Lark. This male bird preened for a full seven minutes and I took 256 images of it.
The bird was behind a boulder at first but popped up on top of the right almost immediately and began to preen. He sure put on a show. This post won’t have much text but it does have plenty of images.
Little did I know how this Horned Lark was getting prepped for a marathon preening session.
Warming up for the preening session – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
Male Horned Lark warms up – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
Horned Lark stretching those shoulders – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
Male Horned Lark side view – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
Horned Lark all fluffed up – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
Horned Lark keeping an eye on the sky – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
Male Horned Lark grooming – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
Horned Lark scratching an itch – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
Horned Lark Pilates – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
Horned Lark stretching left side – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
Horned Lark stretching the right wing – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
Horned Lark shaking it off – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
Horned Lark head tuck – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
Horned Lark and the Paparazzi pose – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
Horned Lark head turn – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
Horned Lark wing stretch – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
Horned Lark checking out the sky – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
Handsome Horned Lark – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
Horned Lark finished with grooming – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
Horned Lark about to fly – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
I had a lot of fun photographing this prolonged male Horned Lark preening session on Antelope Island State Park.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Horned Lark photos plus facts and information about this species.
Bravo Mia! What a fantastic series! I’m a sucker for that over he shoulder look. So sexy 😉
Thanks Larry, I like that over the shoulder look too!
Very entertaining poses and a wonderful series, way to go.
Thanks Jim, it was a very cooperative Horned Lark!
Mia, I have only seen the Horned Lark and would love to capture an image of one. My favorite in the series is the scratch shot. Makes me feel good just to look at it. You deserve to be spoiled by a bird once in a while. I am glad you were there to capture it.
Skip Harris
VERY cool, love all those neat poses!
Thanks Nicole, hope you are getting out to do some photography or working on your great drawings.
What a great sighting! I love the “portrait” one where he’s looking back.
Jeremy,
That is one of my favorite images in this series too.
One cooperative bird is all it takes to make my day. Serious birders track species/day, but I’m happy to see only a few, or even one, if there is a cooperative bird like your Horned Lark. Great series!
Thanks Dave,
Some days would be a bust without one cooperative bird or a couple.
wonderful photos Mia. Love how much detail. I usually only get to see these guys from afar and don’t get as good a look.
dan
Dan, thanks for your comment. I used to only get to see Horned Larks from afar too but ths past year I have been able to get close to them but only in certain locations. The photos here were taken at one of those spots.
Wonderful series. Who knew that preening could be so dang interesting?!
Thanks Robert, it was interesting to see this fellow preening, especially for so long.