Details
Alauda arvensis
A streaked grassland bird famous for long song flights above open fields while remaining well camouflaged on the ground.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
Uses grassland, arable fields, pasture, dunes, vacant land, and low coastal vegetation, favoring open short cover.
Brown streaking, a small crest that may be raised, and white outer tail feathers are key marks in flight.
Males rise high and sing for long periods in the air. On the ground, birds walk while foraging and nesting.
Seeds, shoots, leaves, insects, and spiders are eaten, with insects especially important for chicks.
Ground nests are hidden in grass hollows. Young leave the nest early and hide in low vegetation.
It has declined in parts of European farmland, but its large range and population keep global risk low.
