Sky Lark - Alauda arvensis

Sky Lark

Alauda arvensis

Order : Passeriformes

Family : Alaudidae ;

Biometrics :

Size : 18 à 19 cm
Wingspan : 35 cm
Weight : 45 g

Longevity : 12 years

IUCN conservation status :

Extinct

Threatened

Least
concern

Extinc
in the Wild

Near
threatened

Not
evaluated

EX EW CR EN VU NT LC NE

Geographic range :

Synonyms : Polevoy Zhavoronok (ru), Sånglärka (sv), Alondra común (es), Allodola (it), Feldlerche (al), Veldleeuwerik (nl), Sky Lark (en)

Physical description :
Skylark has brown upperparts, heavily streaked with blackish-brown. Crown is slightly darker, contrasting with whitish eyebrow.
Underparts are white, except the pale buff breast, streaked with dark brown. Throat is yellowish, finely streaked with dark. Tail is dark, almost black, with spotted white outer feathers. Wings show pale fringes.
Head presents long feathers on crown, forming a crest. Eyes are dark brown. Bill is relatively short, with upper mandible slightly darker than lower, both bone-coloured. Legs and feet are pale brown. Feet show a longer rear toes than others.
Both sexes are similar in plumage, but male is larger than female.
Juvenile resembles adults. It is heavily mottled with dark and pale buff above, and with whitish scaling.
At hatching, chicks are covered with fine yellowish down.

Voice :
Sound from CD 'Tous les Oiseaux d'Europe' by Jean C. Roché by courtesy of Sittelle and CEBA. Skylark male has complex songs. Song is uttered while flying. We can hear loud 'trli' or dji' whistles in various pitches. Trills and tremolos are often repeated with different speed, pitch, length and timbre.
When Skylark sings on the ground, song is quieter and shorter, with warblings and pauses. The same melodious sequence may last more than one hour.
Skylark's song is unique. Its quality, variety and length inspirited numerous artists, fascinated by these wonderful variations.

Habitat : Skylark lives in open country, cultivated areas, marshes, meadows and dunes. They avoid wooded areas but they can be found in forest edges, and also at medium and high elevation in open areas, from 1000 to 2700 metres.
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE: Skylark is found in North Africa, Asia and Europe. This species was introduced to Australia, New Zealand, Canada (Vancouver) and Hawaii. Some northern populations migrate southwards, others don't move.

Behaviour : Skylark often lives on the ground. To feed, it forages on the ground, searching for food by sight, in crouched posture, creeping forwards as it feeds. Its plumage makes it inconspicuous on the ground.
Skylarks are very gregarious, forming large mixed flocks during migration and winter, with other species such as pipits, finches and buntings.
Most of populations are sedentary, but hard winters see the northern populations migrating southwards, joining the residents of these southern areas. If weather is too cold, Skylarks die in large numbers.
Skylarks male sings above or within its territory at about 50 to 60 metres from the nest. Song is used to defend territory and to strengthen pair bonds between mates. Pairs are monogamous and remain together during the breeding season, but if they stay alive after winter, they will be stay together next year. Mates cooperate to raise their young and provide food, with perfect knowing of their territory.
Pairs form in February, leaving large winter flocks to establish territory, generally the same year after year. At this time, males start their flight displays, climbing from the ground in spiral, and singing strongly. Once at high elevation, male descends in spiral, alternating wing beats and glides, always singing. When arrived at some lower elevation, it 'falls' to the ground as a stone. There, it still performs other displays, walking around female with erect crest, dropped wings and fanned tail. Courtship displays reach a peak in March and April, and much more after a strong rain, but we don't know why!
Skylark is territorial during breeding season. The bird performs its displays on the ground, with ruffled feathers, erect crest and some threatening actions such as fluttering off the ground with half open wings, and also with aerial displays such as series of upwards glides with some fluttering towards the intruder.

Flight : Skylark flies at low elevation over open country, on short distances, often turning low above the ground, while calling.
On longer distances, flight becomes undulating, but Skylark has strong direct flight. During migration, Skylark may travel on 30 to 80 km per day.

Reproduction-nesting : Skylark nests on the ground in shallow depression in meadow or cultivated area, concealed in short grasses, or under scrubs or large leaves. Female builds the nest with grass and dry weeds. Nest is lined with finer plant materials and horsehair or hair.
Female lays 3 to 5 eggs. Colours are varied, according to different pairs and subspecies. Incubation lasts about 11 days, by female, while male continues to fly and sing over the territory.
Chicks are fed by both parents and grow quickly. They leave the nest at about 9 to 10 days after hatching, and they remain in surrounding vegetation. They fledge 10 days later, at 3 weeks of age. To avoid predators, parents alight at some distance from the nest and they reach the place walking on the ground.
This species produces two broods per year, sometimes three.

Food habits : Skylark feeds on insects and larvae, earthworms, and seeds and grain.

Protection / threats : Skylarks clutches are preyed upon by small raptors, foxes and snakes. Adults are captured by humans to sell them for their flesh.
The species is protected, but humans are going on to trap them, and these methods greatly reduce their numbers.
Populations of Skylarks are also threatened by habitat loss, with changes in agricultural practices and loss of open countries.

Other links :
Iucn
Birdlife

Specification sheet created by Nicole Bouglouan

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