Eurasian Skylark

Alauda arvensis

Sings while spiraling skyward. Your message comes with a free concert.

Population: Very large and stable globally (many tens of millions of individuals); UK alone holds roughly 1.5-2 million breeding territories (estimates vary by survey year), with UK/European numbers in long-term decline (~9% UK decrease 1995-2024) due to agricultural intensification, even though the global IUCN status remains Least Concern
Habitat: Open country — grassland, farmland, heathland, moorland, upland, and other treeless landscapes with low vegetation
Fun fact: The Eurasian Skylark sings its long, bubbling, continuous song while hovering and climbing on fluttering wings up to 50-100 m above its territory, sometimes sustaining the display for 20 minutes or more.
Range: Breeds across most of Europe, temperate Asia, and North African mountains; western/southern populations largely resident, northern and eastern populations migrate south for winter; introduced and established in Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, and Vancouver Island (British Columbia), Canada
Diet: Omnivorous — insects and other invertebrates (especially in the breeding season and for feeding chicks), plus seeds and other plant material year-round
Size: 0.185 m
Wingspan: 0.33 m
Lifespan: 10 years

More Songbirds