Eurasian Skylark

The Eurasian Skylark is a species of Europe and Asia that has been introduced to many other locations around the globe.  In North America, many attempts were made to introduce the species in the 19th century, but the only surviving population with breeding was on southern Vancouver Island in Canada.  Small numbers of Eurasian Skylarks continue to be found on Vancouver Island and nearby San Juan Island of Washington State, but the small population has been declining.  Eurasian Skylarks are also introduced in Hawaii, where they are relatively common.  Elsewhere in North America, Eurasian Skylarks are considered casual visitors in the western Aleutian Islands in Alaska, as well as on islands in the Bering Sea.  There are some indications that Skylarks may occasionally breed in the Pribilof Islands in the Bering Sea.  Sightings of the species have also rarely occurred away from western Alaska or the Vancouver population, including an accepted sighting at Point Reyes in California in 1978.

Habitat: The small introduced population on Vancouver Island is found in open grassy areas.  In their native Eurasian range, they are found in a variety of open habitats, including grasslands and steppes, farmland, and wetland edges.

Diet: Feeds on seeds, insects, and spiders.

Behavior: Eurasian Skylarks mostly forage by walking along in open habitats, picking up seeds and insects from the ground, or from the foliage and seed heads of low vegetation.

Nesting: The nest of a Eurasian Skylark is constructed on the ground in a grassy area.  The nest itself is a depression lined with grasses and roots.  The females lays between 3 and 5 eggs, and she alone incubates them. After the eggs hatch, both parents help to feed the young, who leave the nest after about 10 days.

Song: Song is a series of musical, liquid warbling notes, given during spectacular display flights for which the species is well known.

Migration: Eurasian Skylarks hanging on around Vancouver Island are considered permanent residents.  In their normal Eurasian range, birds breeding in the north are migratory, while some populations further south in Eurasia are considered permanent residents.

Interactive eBird map: Click here to access an interactive eBird map of Eurasian Skylark sightings

Similar Species: In North America, the only other member of the Lark family is the Horned Lark.  While similar in structure and size, plumage differences between the two species are obvious.  In North America, perhaps the two species most likely to be confused with the Eurasian Skylark are the American Pipit or the Lapland Longspur.

Conservation Status: In their normal Eurasian range, populations are widespread and strong, although there are signs of declines in recent decades.  The IUCN lists the Eurasian Skylark as a species of "Least Concern".  The small introduced population around Vancouver Island has been in decline.

Further Information: 1) BirdWeb - Skylark

2) British Garden Birds - Skylark

3) British Trust for Ornithology - Skylark

Photo Information: Photo taken by Ken (nkenji) - Photo licensed under Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial NoDerivs 2.0 Generic License.

 

Click below for a higher-resolution map

South Dakota Status: Non-resident in South Dakota

Additional Skylark Photos (coming soon!!)