It is a very rare vagrant to western Europe, with two accepted records in Great Britain in 1981 and 1991.

Adults have a typically sparrow-like dark-streaked brown back, and white underparts except for a dark central spot.

They mainly eat seeds, but insects, including grasshoppers, are also eaten in the breeding season.

When an occupied nest is approached by a predator, adult female lark sparrows are known to exhibit a distraction display.

Lark sparrows are occasional victims of brood parasitism by the brown-headed cowbird.