Alauda arvensis - Skylark
Feather characters. Barbules are from short until medium length (0.6-1.6 mm) and divided into pigmented nodes and unpigmented internodes. Bell-shaped nodes are equally distributed along the entire length of barbules (22-42 per mm). They all are about the same size, slightly decreasing towards distal end. Villi are rounded and internodes are straight. Minute prongs are present on distal end of barbules and on both sides of the pennulum. Barbules have this typical structure for Passeriformes; pigmented, bell-shaped nodes combined with rounded villi.
Field characters. Size 18 cm. Weight: male 42.7 g (32.0-51.0), female 37.2 g (29.0-47.0) (Dunning, 1993). Larger than Woodlark (Lullula arborea, not included in BRIS). Mainly brown, strongly streaked with black. Rather plain face without any obvious marks, indistinct white supercilium, small crest giving square-headed appearance when not erected. Breast yellowish with fine dark streaks, remainder of underparts white. Bill stronger than in Woodlark, but less so than in Calandra Lark (Melanocorypha calandra, not included in BRIS). Tail fairly long with white outer tail feathers. In flight tail fairly long and wings broad; underwings grey, not black as in Calandra Lark. White trailing edge on wing like in latter. Flight undulating with flapping wing beats. During breeding season strongly territorial, in autumn and winter often found in large flocks.
Voice. Clear 'chirrup' or 'chirrp', also 'tsooi'. Song loud, clear and jubilant, can go on for half an hour or more, performed in hovering flight up to considerable heights, sometimes hardly visible from the ground.
Distribution. Common and widespread, but declining in many parts of region. Map: see MapIt.
Habitat. Needs surface covered with low plants. In open fields, meadows, moorlands, etc., often in farmlands. In winter often found on wasteland, saltmarshes, cereal fields, etc.
Food. Insects and seeds. Feeds on the ground.