©Margaret Holland
Skylark
Scientific name: Alauda arvensis
The song of the skylark has been the subject of many great musical and literary works. A quintessential feature of our farmland and grasslands habitats, it is declining rapidly with habitat loss.
Species information
Statistics
Length: 18cmWingspan: 33cm
Weight: 35-42g
Average lifespan: 2 years
Conservation status
Classified in the UK as Red under the Birds of Conservation Concern 5: the Red List for Birds (2021).
When to see
January to DecemberAbout
Male skylarks can be spotted rising almost vertically from farmland, grassland, saltmarshes and moorland. They hover effortlessly, singing from a great height, before parachuting back down to earth. These long and complicated song-flights can last for up to an hour and the birds can reach 300m before descending. They'll also sing from perches, such as fence posts or large rocks. Despite their aerial activities, skylarks nest on the ground, laying three to four eggs. Chicks become independent after only two weeks and parents can have up to four broods in a breeding season.How to identify
If seen in song-flight, the skylark is unmistakeable. A streaky brown bird, with a crest, it is larger than the similar woodlark (a rare bird of heathland and woodland edges) and has a longer tail. It is also much larger than the similar meadow pipit, which has a thinner bill and no crest.In our area
Some of the best places to hear skylarks in London are Wimbledon Common, Wanstead Flats, Yeading Brook Meadows, Richmond Park and Rainham Marshes. But if you're planning a visit, be aware that the skylark population in Britain has declined by over 50% since 1970. In London, the species is in danger of becoming extinct due, in part, to the large number of visitors that disturb their breeding activities at country parks and on commons. Please keep yourself and your dog away from the long grass and heath here.