The Lark Bunting is only a casual and irregular visitor to Arizona. This striking sparrow of the Great Plains breeds primarily from central Canada south through the western United States, favoring shortgrass prairies and open shrublands. In Arizona, it is most often detected during migration periods—particularly in late summer and fall—when small flocks occasionally appear in open grasslands, agricultural fields, or desert scrub, especially in the northern and eastern parts of the state. Adult males in breeding plumage are unmistakable, with their jet-black bodies set off by bold white wing patches, while females and non-breeding males are streaked brown, resembling large sparrows. The species does not nest in Arizona.
