Horned lark among the wildflowers

Easy to walk right past — horned larks blend into open, sparse ground almost perfectly until they move. This one was working the short grass among a scatter of spring wildflowers, the black mask and tiny feather “horns” only obvious at a close look.

Why it matters

Horned larks are true ground-dwellers, nesting in a scrape in bare soil rather than in a shrub or tree, which makes them well suited to Antelope Island’s open, low-vegetation terrain. They’re one of the most widespread lark species in the world, found across open habitat on several continents.

Getting the shot

Got down low to the bird’s own level rather than shooting down at it, which put the purple flowers in a soft blur across the whole background instead of just behind the subject.