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Skylark Alauda arvensis [Linnaeus, 1758]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Passeriformes
Family:
Alaudidae
BTO Codes:
S. , SKYLA
EURING No:
9760
Number in Britain:
1.7 million territories (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK:
RED
European:
3 Concern, most not in Europe; Depleted
Global:
Least Concern
View video clips from
IBC
Status in UK:
(A) Resident Breeder, Passage/Winter Visitor
Subspecies:
arvensis recorded in Britain (of 11 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
18 cm
Wingspan:
33 cm
Weight:
M: 42 g F: 35 g
Scientific name from:
L.: Alauda =lark (orig. Gaulish?)
and L.: arvensis =of a field (from arvum =a field)
World Distribution:
Europe, North Africa, n&c Asia, INTRODUCED: Canada, Australia, New Zealand
Habitat:
Grassland, fields, tundra, sand dunes
Diet:
Summer, mostly insects, otherwise cereal grain and weed seeds, also shoots
TitBit:
An integral part of the British landscape, its song has inspired poets ranging from Chaucer to Blake, however, before the widespread introduction of farming it was probably quite scarce and its fortunes since have followed farming practices
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
Regional Trends:
Distribution:
New Atlas )
British Population Size:
Summer:
1.7 million territories
in 2000
First Record:
8th Century
[Fossil evidence from
Ipswichian (last) interglacial, c. 125,000 yr ago]
Latest Survey:
Browne, S. et al. (2000) Bird Study 47:52-65
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
Most frequent in:
Moorland
Also common in:
Arable Farmland, Bog
And found in:
Grass/Heath, Marsh
Relative Frequency in Each Habitat:
European Population Size:
Summer:
25 to 45 million pairs
(Trend in Numbers )
Birds in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
WBD(II*), Bern(III)
Survey Results:
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
23 x 17 mm
Egg Weight:
3.3 g (of which 6 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
180
Clutch Size:
3 - 4 eggs
3.49 ± 0.67 (1 - 6) N = 1448
Incubation:
13 - 14 days
13.30 ± 1.82 (11 - 17) N = 1448
by the:
Female
Fledging:
11 - 16 days
13.48 ± 2.65 (9 - 17) N = 2077
as:
Altricial, downy
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Nest Record Scheme data
First Clutches Laid:
19 May (20 Apr - 6 Jul)
Number of Broods:
1-4
Trends in Breeding Productivity
Number Ringed:
829
Adult Survival:
0.513
Juvenile Survival:
No data
Age at First Breeding:
1
year
Typical Lifespan:
2
years
Maximum Recorded Age:
9yr0m
Biometrics
Ring Size:
B
Wing Length
Adult:
110.8 ± 4.7
Range
102 - 117 mm, N =844
Juvenile:
Insufficient Data.
Male:
114.2 ± 3.1
109 - 119 mm, N =179
Female:
104.0 ± 3.1
100 - 110 mm, N =89
Weight
Adult:
38.56 ± 3.70
Range
32.60 - 44.80 g , N =818
Juvenile:
Insufficient Data.
Male:
39.74 ± 3.63
34.40 - 46.10 g , N =163
Female:
35.49 ± 2.86 .
30.60 - 39.90 g , N =84
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
Other Names
Sky Lark
Gaelic:
Uiseag
Welsh:
Ehedydd
Danish:
Sanglærke
Dutch:
Veldleeuwerik
Finnish:
Kiuru (Leivonen)
French:
Alouette des champs
German:
Feldlerche
Hungarian:
Mezei pacsirta
Icelandic:
Sönglævirki
Irish:
Fuiseog
Italian:
Allodola
Norwegian:
Sanglerke
Polish:
Skowronek zwyczajny
Portuguese:
Laverca
Spanish:
Alondra común
Swedish:
Sånglärka
Local Names: Laverock
Collective Noun: Exaltation
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
Donald, P. & Vickery J. (eds) 2001 The ecology and conservation of skylarks RSPB, Sandy
[598.851 DON]
Donald, P. 2004 The Skylark Poyser, London
[598.851 DON]
See Also:
Gough, G.A. et al. (1998) Patuxent Bird Identification Infocenter
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