- Alauda arvensis
Identification
18cm.
- Brown above with streaked back
- Buff, dark streaked breast
- Streaked crown
- White belly and undertail coverts
- White supercilium
- White outer tail feathers
- Thin bill
- Pink legs
Distribution
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, many birds move to lowlands and the coast in winter. Asian birds appear as vagrants in Alaska; this bird has also been introduced in Hawaii and near Vancouver, Washington.
Taxonomy
There are 13 subspecies.
Habitat
Dense rainforests.
Behaviour
The diet includes seeds and insects.
3-4 eggs are laid and incubated for 11-12 days; the young fledge 9-10 days later. There can be 2 broods.
Vocalisation
<flashmp3>Alauda arvensis (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
References
- mbr-pwrc.usgs
- eNature
External Links