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Birds by name

Woodlark

Conservation status: Amber

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.

Overview

Latin name

Lullula arborea

Family

Larks (Alaudidae)

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

Population

EuropeUK 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.

Illustrations

Audio

Patrik Aberg, Xeno-canto

Characteristics

Woodlark

Woodlark
  • Size: between robin-blackbird
  • Feather colours: brown, black, white, cream/buff
  • Beak colours: black/dark grey
  • Beak length: short
  • Beak thickness: short
  • Leg colour: pink/flesh
  • Behaviour: part of flock, on ground, bird walks/runs on the ground, catches insects in flight

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