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Skylark

Alauda arvensis

Not yet photographed by the community

Farmland bird famous for sustained hovering song flight.

Species Profile

Red List (UK Birds of Conservation Concern)

Lifespan: 6–8 years in the wild
Size & Weight: 18–19 cm, wingspan 30–36 cm; 25–50 g
Habitat: Open grasslands, farmland, heathland, and cultivated fields with low or sparse vegetation.
UK Distribution: Found throughout the UK, though less common in upland areas. Largely resident, with continental birds arriving in autumn; populations have declined significantly since the 1990s.
Diet: Seeds, insects, and small invertebrates; diet shifts seasonally, with more insects taken during breeding season.
Predators: Sparrowhawks, kestrels, hen harriers, and occasionally crows; ground predators include foxes and stoats.
Mating Season: April to July
Breeding: Clutch size 3–4 eggs; incubation period 11–15 days; fledging at 9–12 days. Usually 2 broods per season, sometimes 3.
Behaviour: Skylarks are renowned for their spectacular aerial song-flights, singing whilst hovering or climbing high above grassland. Highly territorial males perform elaborate displays in spring. They are gregarious in winter, forming loose flocks.

Did You Know?

•The male's song-flight can last over an hour and reach heights of 300 metres, making it one of Britain's most iconic bird sounds.
•Skylarks nest on the ground in a shallow scrape, making them vulnerable to agricultural disturbance and predation.
•UK skylark populations have declined by over 70% since the 1990s, primarily due to intensified farming practices and loss of suitable habitat.
•They are capable of producing up to 300 different song phrases, which they string together during their aerial performances.
•Skylarks have been immortalised in British culture, most famously in Vaughan Williams' orchestral work 'The Lark Ascending'.

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