Woodlark

Lullula arborea

This charming songbird fills European heathlands and woodlands with its melodious, flute-like warble, often heard while the bird spirals high into the sky.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Woodlark is a small, compact bird with a distinctive short crest on its head. Its plumage is primarily brown, with darker streaks on the back and pale underparts. The tail is short with white outer feathers, visible in flight.

Both sexes look similar, with juveniles resembling adults but having a more spotted appearance. The bird's eye-stripe and pale supercilium (eyebrow) are notable field marks.

Their legs and feet are pinkish brown and set well back toward the tail. Their straight, medium-length bill is brownish, with a pinkish base to the lower half (mandible).

Size

Length

15cm to 17cm

Wingspan

27cm to 30cm

Weight

23g to 35g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown

Secondary Colour

White Black

Beak Colour

Brown Pink

Leg Colour

Pink

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Woodlark can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Woodlark is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Woodlark is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Woodlark is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Woodlark is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Woodlark can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Woodlark can be found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Woodlark is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Woodlark is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Woodlark is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Woodlark is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Woodlark is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Woodlarks inhabit open woodlands, heathlands, and forest edges across Europe and parts of western Asia. They prefer areas with bare ground or short vegetation interspersed with scattered trees or bushes.

In the UK, they are found mainly in southern England, with some populations in Wales and eastern England. During winter, some birds from northern Europe migrate to milder regions, including southern parts of their range.

The best UK sites include Breckland - Norfolk & Suffolk, New Forest - Hampshire & Wiltshire, Surrey heathlands, RSPB Minsmere and RSPB North Warren - Suffolk.

Elevation Range

Up to 3,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Mediterranean

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Woodlark. 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