Common skylark

    Alauda arvensis

Castilian: Alondra común

Catalan: Alosa vulgar

Gallego: Laverca

Euskera: Hegatxabal arrunta

CLASIFICACIÓN:

Orden: Passeriformes

Family: Alaudidae

Migratory status: Permanent resident

CONSERVATION STATUS:

In the 2004 edition of the Red Book of Spanish Birds (Libro Rojo de las Aves de España) it is listed as “Not Evaluated”.

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THREATS

Agricultural intensification, the clearing of pastureland, and transformation into irrigation systems all represent threats, but nevertheless it continues to be a quite common species.

Length / size: 18-19 cm / 30-36 cm

Identification: Lark that is brown with dark streaks, a small crest, a pale facial mask, and a white edging on its wings and external tail feathers.

Song: It makes a series of linked and repetitive trills.

Diet: Depending on the time of year it feeds on both animales and plants: in spring, it eats bits of grain; in summer, mostly insects; in autumn, grain seeds and weeds; and in winter, leaves and seeds from weeds.

Reproduction: The breeding period begins in March. It is a monogamous, solitary and territorial species. The nest is prepared on the ground, covered with leaves and twigs, and hidden in the vegetation or crops. The female is responsible for incubation.

HABITAT

It occupies treeless and open spaces, with farming areas, pastureland and high scrubland (thyme bushes, moors, etc.). It usually breeds from sea level up to an elevation of 3,000 metres in Sierra Nevada.

DISTRIBUTION

In Spain: It is evenly distributed throughout the northern half of the peninsula.

In Castile and León: It is distributed throughout the entire community.

Movements and migrations: The specimens from northern and western Europe come to our latitudes to spend the winter. The autumn passage takes place between September-December, and the spring passage between late February and mid-April.

POPULATION

In Spain: There is an estimated population of 2-6 million breeding pairs.

In Castile and León: