The RSPB: Woodlark

Woodlark

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Latin name

Lullula arborea

Family

Larks (Alaudidae)

Overview

It is a streaky brown bird, with a buffy-white eye-stripe which meets across the nape. It has a well developed crest on its crown which is not always conspicuous. In flight the peculiarly short tail and broad, rounded wings are noticeable and the deeply undulating flight with closed wing glides is characteristic. Some UK breeding birds spend the winter on the Continent. Recent population declines make it a Red List species.

Where to see them

Found breeding mainly in eastern and southern England - the New Forest, Surrey/Berkshire heaths, Breckland and some Suffolk heaths are the best areas to find them. The ones which remain in winter are usually found in Hampshire, west Surrey and Devon, and in recent years some wintering flocks have been found in East Anglia. Woodlarks can be looked for at Minsmere and North Warren RSPB reserves, Suffolk and occur in good numbers in Breckland (Norfolk/Suffolk), the New Forest (Hants) and Surrey/Berkshire heathlands

When to see them

All year round.

What they eat

Seeds and insects

Estimated numbers

Europe	UK breeding*	UK wintering*	UK passage*
-	Estimated 3084 territories	-	-

* UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn.

Distribution

Key

Please note that the map is only intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.

Audio is from commercial recordings Bird Songs and Calls of Britain and Europe on 4 CDs or Bird Sounds of Europe & North-west Africa, copyright WildSounds & CEBA (www.wildsounds.com, (UK) +44 (0) 1263 741100)