Woodlark
Encyclopedia
The Woodlark is the only lark
in the genus Lullula. It breeds across most of Europe
, the Middle East
Asia
and the mountains of north Africa
. It is mainly resident in the west of its range, but eastern populations of this passerine bird are more migratory
, moving further south in winter. Even in the milder west of its range, many birds move south in winter.
This is a 13.5–15 cm long bird of open heath with some trees, and other open woodlands, especially those with pine
s and light soil
. Its generic name derives from its sweet plaintive song, delivered in flight from heights of 100 m or more.
Like most other lark
s, this is an undistinguished-looking species on the ground, mainly brown above and pale below, but with distinctive white superciliar meeting on the nape. In flight it shows a short tail and short broad wings. The tail is tipped with white, but unlike the Skylark
, the tail sides and the rear edge of the wings are not edged with white.
The nest is on the ground, with up to 6 egg
s being laid. Food is seeds supplemented with insect
s in the breeding season.
departs from the standard tradition of British nature poetry by trying to transliterate the bird's song into made-up words, saying:
The Scottish poet Robert Burns
writes of the bird's "melting art" in his Address to the Woodlark3. However, since the Woodlark is not currently found in Scotland, it is possible that he confused the Woodlark with another bird. Another possibility is that the bird, whose range has contracted but is now expanding4, was found in Scotland during Burns's era.
Lark
Larks are passerine birds of the family Alaudidae. All species occur in the Old World, and in northern and eastern Australia; only one, the Shore Lark, has spread to North America, where it is called the Horned Lark...
in the genus Lullula. It breeds across most of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and the mountains of north Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. It is mainly resident in the west of its range, but eastern populations of this passerine bird are more migratory
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
, moving further south in winter. Even in the milder west of its range, many birds move south in winter.
This is a 13.5–15 cm long bird of open heath with some trees, and other open woodlands, especially those with pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
s and light soil
Soil
Soil is a natural body consisting of layers of mineral constituents of variable thicknesses, which differ from the parent materials in their morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics...
. Its generic name derives from its sweet plaintive song, delivered in flight from heights of 100 m or more.
Like most other lark
Lark
Larks are passerine birds of the family Alaudidae. All species occur in the Old World, and in northern and eastern Australia; only one, the Shore Lark, has spread to North America, where it is called the Horned Lark...
s, this is an undistinguished-looking species on the ground, mainly brown above and pale below, but with distinctive white superciliar meeting on the nape. In flight it shows a short tail and short broad wings. The tail is tipped with white, but unlike the Skylark
Skylark
The Skylark is a small passerine bird species. This lark breeds across most of Europe and Asia and in the mountains of north Africa. It is mainly resident in the west of its range, but eastern populations are more migratory, moving further south in winter. Even in the milder west of its range,...
, the tail sides and the rear edge of the wings are not edged with white.
The nest is on the ground, with up to 6 egg
Egg (biology)
An egg is an organic vessel in which an embryo first begins to develop. In most birds, reptiles, insects, molluscs, fish, and monotremes, an egg is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum, which is expelled from the body and permitted to develop outside the body until the developing...
s being laid. Food is seeds supplemented with insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s in the breeding season.
Culture
The Woodlark is commemorated by two famous British poets for its beautiful song. In The Woodlark2 Gerard Manley HopkinsGerard Manley Hopkins
Gerard Manley Hopkins, S.J. was an English poet, Roman Catholic convert, and Jesuit priest, whose posthumous 20th-century fame established him among the leading Victorian poets...
departs from the standard tradition of British nature poetry by trying to transliterate the bird's song into made-up words, saying:
- Teevo cheevo cheevio chee:
- O where, what can tháat be?
- Weedio-weedio: there again!
- So tiny a trickle of sóng-strain;
The Scottish poet Robert Burns
Robert Burns
Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide...
writes of the bird's "melting art" in his Address to the Woodlark3. However, since the Woodlark is not currently found in Scotland, it is possible that he confused the Woodlark with another bird. Another possibility is that the bird, whose range has contracted but is now expanding4, was found in Scotland during Burns's era.
External links
- Woodlarks in Lincolnshire Conservation Project
- Oiseaux images
- Ageing and sexing (PDF) by Javier Blasco-Zumeta
- Field Guide Page on Flickr
Identification
- Lidster, James (2007) Identification: Skylark and Woodlark BirdwatchBirdwatch (magazine)Birdwatch is a British monthly magazine for birdwatchers, established in 1992 by Solo Publishing. Distributed by subscription and also through newsagents, it has a cover price of £4.10...