Larks are passerine birds of the family Alaudidae. Like many ground birds, most lark species have long hind claws, which are thought to provide stability while standing. Most have streaked brown plumage, some boldly marked with black or white. There are around 100 species of lark. Only a single species, the horned lark, occurs in North America, and only Horsfield's bush lark occurs in Australia.