Nests are placed on the ground, in heavy cover.
Fig. 9.—Histograms representing breeding schedules of cardueline and emberizine finches in Kansas. See legend to Figure 1 for explanation of histograms.
Lark Bunting: Calamospiza melanocorys Stejneger.—This species is ordinarily a common summer resident in western Kansas, in grassland and open scrub. Specimens taken in the breeding season and all breeding records except one for western Franklin County come from west of stations in Decatur, Ellis, and Comanche counties. Irregular fluctuations in breeding density have been recorded from Decatur County (Wolfe, 1961). Temporal occurrence is indicated in [Table 20].
Breeding schedule.—Fourteen records of breeding span the period May 21 to June 20; the modal date of egg-laying cannot be determined from the present sample.
Number of eggs.—Clutch-size is 4 eggs (4.1, 3-5; 7).
Nests are placed on the ground, at bases of clumps of grasses.
Grasshopper Sparrow: Ammodramus savannarum perpallidus (Coues).—This species is a local and at times common summer resident throughout Kansas, in grassland. Temporal occurrence is indicated in [Table 20].
Breeding schedule.—Seven records of breeding fall in the period May 1 to June 30; the modal date of laying seems to be about May 21.
Number of eggs.—Clutch-size is 5 eggs (4.8, 4-5; 5).