The Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) is named for the ‘horns’, formed by two pointed black feathers jutting out backwards on either side of the crown, most prominently in males. Forty-two subspecies are recognised and is found widely across much of the northern hemisphere, even penetrating into South America, with a relict subspecies in Colombia. It is mainly brown-grey above and pale below, with a striking black and yellow face pattern. The summer male has black "horns", hence its American name. In Europe, it is known as the Shore Lark - though only the sub-species Flava is coastal.
