Woodlark

The woodlark (Lullula arborea) is much less familiar than the skylark, being considerably rarer and without the latter’s characteristic summertime song flight. It is smaller and stockier than the skylark, and has a finer bill, but is otherwise quite similar in appearance.

The woodlark is distributed throughout most of Europe, being resident in some areas and migratory in others. In the United Kingdom its breeding range is limited to southern and eastern England, and a number of these birds also over-winter. The woodlark’s preferred habitat is dry sandy areas with scattered pine trees, such as the heathlands of the New Forest, Surrey, and the Breckland of East Anglia. Despite its name, it is not noticeably a woodland bird.

Appearance

The woodlark is 15-16 centimetres (6 inches) in length. It has broad rounded wings and a short tail. Its plumage, which is similar as between males and females, is streaky brown on the upperparts, wings and breast, but much lighter (almost white) below. The head is marked by off-white lines above the eyes that meet behind the neck, and also along the edges of the throat, thus delineating brown cheek markings. The head also has a crest that is less prominent than that of the skylark.

Behaviour

The flight of the woodlark is undulating with glides and never vertical like that of its skylark cousin. On the ground it is unobtrusive and well camouflaged.

The woodlark has a musical and very pleasant song of repeated phrases that can be heard either in flight or from the ground or a tree perch. The woodlark sings at night or at dusk, and also during the day in spring and summer.

Food for woodlarks consists of insects, larvae, spiders and seeds.

Breeding

The woodlark returns to its breeding grounds in March, either already paired or ready to do so soon after arrival. The nest is built on the ground, in heather, a grassy tussock or under a young pine tree. It comprises roots, plant stems and moss, with a lining of hairs and other soft material.

The clutch of four or five eggs is incubated by the hen woodlark alone for up to 15 days. Both parents feed the nestlings for up to 15 days at the nest and also for a short time after the young birds have fledged. The young birds then form flocks that roam the area in search of seeds.

A second brood is usual, any time from June to August, but this will be raised in a new nest in a different location.

Conservation

Unlike the red-listed skylark, the woodlark only has amber conservation status in the United Kingdom. Despite its much smaller numbers, it is not seen as being in as much danger of serious decline.

© John Welford