Woodlark

The woodlark 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. Woodlarks are listed under Schedule 1 of The Wildlife and Countryside Act.

Woodlarks are mainly found breeding 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.