Eurasian Skylark

Alauda arvensis

The musical maestro of open fields soars high, serenading the countryside with its famous song-flight display.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Eurasian Skylark is a small, streaked brown bird with a distinctive crest that can be raised when alert. Its upperparts are mottled brown, while the underparts are pale buff with dark streaks on the breast.

Both sexes look similar, with males slightly larger. In flight, the skylark shows white outer tail feathers and trailing edges on the wings, contrasting with its brown body.

Juveniles are similar to adults but have more boldly spotted (not streaked) upperparts and a wider supercilium.

Size

Length

16cm to 18cm

Wingspan

30cm to 36cm

Weight

30g to 45g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown

Secondary Colour

White Buff

Beak Colour

Brown

Leg Colour

Pink

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Eurasian Skylark is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Eurasian Skylark is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Eurasian Skylark is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Eurasian Skylark is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Eurasian Skylark is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Eurasian Skylark can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Eurasian Skylark can be found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Eurasian Skylark is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Eurasian Skylark is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Eurasian Skylark is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Eurasian Skylark is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Eurasian Skylark is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Eurasian Skylarks inhabit open landscapes across Europe and Asia, from coastal areas to mountain grasslands. They prefer short grass habitats, including meadows, pastures, and agricultural fields.

In the UK, skylarks are widespread residents, with some birds migrating south in winter. They're also found in parts of North Africa and have been introduced to Hawaii, Western Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 3,500 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subarctic

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Eurasian Skylark. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons