Bird ID Photo Guides

Basic Principles

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Larks are ground-living birds generally associated with grassland habitats, and are well known for their habit of singing in flight. The open landscapes of southern Europe and north Africa are home to a wide variety of lark species, posing considerab­le identifica­tion challenges, but only two species are generally resident in the UK: Eurasian Skylark and Woodlark. Of these two, the former is by far the most abundant and widespread, with an estimated 1.5 million breeding territorie­s, compared to between 2,000 and 3,000 Woodlark territorie­s. During the breeding season, Eurasian Skylark can be found in almost every 10-km square in the UK, while Woodlarks are confined to their core breeding areas, which are open forests or heathlands in East Anglia, the New Forest, the Thames Basin and Devon, with smaller population­s now in the West Midlands, northern England and South Wales. In spring and summer, unless you are on a heathland or in a managed forestry plantation, any lark encountere­d is most likely to be a Eurasian Skylark. During migration or winter, many Eurasian Skylarks move to lowland stubble fields or coastal areas, where they may mix with Shore Larks, the occasional wintering continenta­l Woodlark or even rarer lark species, which is when an understand­ing of key ID features becomes most valuable.

Eurasian Skylark

This species shows its clearest plumage markings in autumn when fresh; by spring the general impression is of a pale greyish-brown bird with a streaked chest and white underparts. Plumage features to note are the superciliu­m, which ends above the ear and does not continue round to the back of the head, and the primary coverts, which are uniformly dark, not showing a white wing-bar either in flight or on the closed wing. In flight, look for the white outer tail feathers and paler trailing edge to the wing. Structural­ly, skylarks are relatively large, long, chunky birds, with broad triangular wings like a Common Starling, often held angled strongly downwards in flight. Both in flight and perched, the tail appears fairly long, a feature that can be emphasised by the white outer tail feathers. Depending on their mood they can show a short, blunt crest, more prominent than that of Woodlark. The most characteri­stic feature of Eurasian Skylark is the song, the ‘silver chain of sound’, consisting of dry rolling whistling notes continuous­ly descending from the sky for up to 15 minutes at a time. Singing skylarks can be up to 150 m in the air, and it’s always a pleasant challenge to try to spot the bird, and marvel at how such a tiny dot can produce such a loud sound. Eurasian Skylark in full song-flight is unmistakab­le, and once the timbre of the song has been learned, it’s the best way to identify the species in other situations, such as birds singing occasional­ly from song-posts, or uttering short snatches of song while flitting up and down into arable fields. The calls, like the song, consist of dry rolling sounds, with none of the flutiness of Woodlark calls. While Eurasian Skylark may occasional­ly perch up on trees or wires, it is most commonly seen on the ground or in flight.

Woodlark

Eurasian Skylark, as the more common species, is the benchmark against which Woodlark is most usefully compared. Woodlark plumage is overall very similar to that of skylark, but one of the most obvious points of difference is the more striking head patterning. The broad, pale superciliu­m does not end above the ear, but extends round to the back of the neck, and the pair meet at the back of the head forming a white ‘V’, resulting in the darker crown appearing as a cap. Another feature is the patterning of the primary coverts, which are dark with broad buff tips, forming a noticeable dark patch on the closed wing, and also showing as a dark area next to a pale wing-bar on the outer part of the wing in flight. Structural­ly, Woodlark has a small, rounded, dumpy appearance compared to Eurasian Skylark, showing blunt, bat-like wings in flight. Woodlark is noticeably shorter tailed than Eurasian Skylark, a feature which is immediatel­y clear on both standing and flying birds to observers familiar with the more abundant species. The short tail can look even shorter in certain lights, due to the white tips to the tail feathers, and Woodlark also lacks the white outer tail feathers shown by skylark. When seen close up, Woodlark has a pointed, slender bill, compared to the stubbier bill of Eurasian Skylark. As hinted by its scientific name Lullula, Woodlark has a beautiful, sad-sounding, descending song, with distinctiv­e downwards-sliding notes which might be thought of as a cross between Blackbird in tone and Willow Warbler in pattern. While it can sometimes sing from perches, it normally sings in flight, ascending in slow, lazy spirals, lower and more mobile than a singing skylark, which gives the impression of being pinned to the sky. The calls are fluty whistles, very different from the dry calls of skylark.

Crested Lark

This species is very unlikely to be seen in the UK, being very sedentary in its European range; there have been fewer than 20 recorded here. However, it overlaps with both Woodlark and Eurasian Skylark across much of Europe, and in southern areas it is found alongside many other lark species. In Spain and North Africa, it overlaps with the extremely similar Thekla’s Lark; these two species can only be distinguis­hed on close views. Crested Lark can be found in farmland and other open areas. It gives the impression of being plainer than Eurasian Skylark, with generally greyish-brown plumage, and no clear distinguis­hing markings on the wings and tail in flight. It is slightly larger than Eurasian Skylark, with a very different head shape. The crest is long and pointed and often held up, appearing to be roughly the same height again as the head. Even when flattened, it can be seen sticking out at the back of the crown, unlike the smaller crests of Eurasian Skylark and Woodlark. Another striking difference is the long, straight bill, nearly as long as the head, and clearly larger than that of Eurasian Skylark. Crested Lark is a vocal bird, often uttering short phrases of drawn-out, ringing notes, and with a long, varied song often given in flight.

?? ?? THREE: Adult Woodlark (Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, 3 March 2014). Woodlark is more richly coloured than Eurasian Skylark, with much more noticeable facial features including a striking superciliu­m and a dark cap. With good views the dark and pale patches formed by the primary coverts on the folded wing can be seen, but this feature can be hard to make out; in this photo only the pale patch, formed by the tips of the primary coverts, is visible. Woodlark is smaller than its Eurasian cousin, closer in size to House Sparrow, and with a noticeably short tail.
THREE: Adult Woodlark (Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, 3 March 2014). Woodlark is more richly coloured than Eurasian Skylark, with much more noticeable facial features including a striking superciliu­m and a dark cap. With good views the dark and pale patches formed by the primary coverts on the folded wing can be seen, but this feature can be hard to make out; in this photo only the pale patch, formed by the tips of the primary coverts, is visible. Woodlark is smaller than its Eurasian cousin, closer in size to House Sparrow, and with a noticeably short tail.
?? ?? TWO: Adult Eurasian Skylark (Tuscany, Italy, 21 May 2006). In size, Eurasian Skylark is larger bodied than most pipits or finches, but smaller than Common Starling. When alert or perched they sometimes stand upright, crest raised, but normally when on the ground their bodies are held horizontal­ly, and the crest is flattened and invisible. With good views, as shown here, the plumage details can be seen, but from a distance the overall impression is of a pale brown and white bird, large bodied, with a small head and a long tail. As with most larks, it’s not possible to distinguis­h between males and females on plumage.
TWO: Adult Eurasian Skylark (Tuscany, Italy, 21 May 2006). In size, Eurasian Skylark is larger bodied than most pipits or finches, but smaller than Common Starling. When alert or perched they sometimes stand upright, crest raised, but normally when on the ground their bodies are held horizontal­ly, and the crest is flattened and invisible. With good views, as shown here, the plumage details can be seen, but from a distance the overall impression is of a pale brown and white bird, large bodied, with a small head and a long tail. As with most larks, it’s not possible to distinguis­h between males and females on plumage.
?? ?? FOUR: Adult Crested Lark (Valladolid, Spain, 7 April 2016). Crested Lark is slightly larger than Eurasian Skylark, between House Sparrow and Common Starling in size. It has few distinguis­hing plumage features, showing fairly plain brown upperparts, particular­ly when the feathers are worn, and white underparts with streaking on the breast. The most noticeable features are the long, prominent bill and tall, spiky crest; even when the crest is folded flat against the head it can still be seen.
FOUR: Adult Crested Lark (Valladolid, Spain, 7 April 2016). Crested Lark is slightly larger than Eurasian Skylark, between House Sparrow and Common Starling in size. It has few distinguis­hing plumage features, showing fairly plain brown upperparts, particular­ly when the feathers are worn, and white underparts with streaking on the breast. The most noticeable features are the long, prominent bill and tall, spiky crest; even when the crest is folded flat against the head it can still be seen.
?? ?? SIX: Adult Woodlark (Limburg, The Netherland­s, 13 October 2017). Woodlark often calls in flight, with its characteri­stic liquid notes, very different to the dry calls of Eurasian Skylark. Even in flight, the richness of the markings can sometimes be seen, including the superciliu­m, and the complex patterning of the wing showing the dark centres and white tips of the primary coverts. However, the best features to note on Woodlarks in flight are the short tail and broad, rounded, bat-like wings.
SIX: Adult Woodlark (Limburg, The Netherland­s, 13 October 2017). Woodlark often calls in flight, with its characteri­stic liquid notes, very different to the dry calls of Eurasian Skylark. Even in flight, the richness of the markings can sometimes be seen, including the superciliu­m, and the complex patterning of the wing showing the dark centres and white tips of the primary coverts. However, the best features to note on Woodlarks in flight are the short tail and broad, rounded, bat-like wings.
?? ?? FIVE: Adult Eurasian Skylark (Limburg, The Netherland­s, 23 March 2013). All larks show broad bases to the wings when in flight, and in this picture the triangular wing shape of Eurasian Skylark can be seen. Relative to the body and wings, the head and bill appear to be small, and the tail is fairly long. This photo shows the white outer tail feathers, which can be noticeable in a bird flying away from you, and the white trailing edge to the wing, which is often hard to see.
FIVE: Adult Eurasian Skylark (Limburg, The Netherland­s, 23 March 2013). All larks show broad bases to the wings when in flight, and in this picture the triangular wing shape of Eurasian Skylark can be seen. Relative to the body and wings, the head and bill appear to be small, and the tail is fairly long. This photo shows the white outer tail feathers, which can be noticeable in a bird flying away from you, and the white trailing edge to the wing, which is often hard to see.
?? ?? SEVEN: Adult Crested Lark (Oman, 16 March 2006). The large bill of Crested Lark can be seen even in flight. While the wings are broad based, like all larks, Crested Lark has longer and less triangular wings than Eurasian Skylark, and overall appear bulkier, with a heavier head and body. It lacks the pale trailing edge to the wing and the white outer tail feathers shown by Eurasian Skylark, and has rufous-tinged underwings.
SEVEN: Adult Crested Lark (Oman, 16 March 2006). The large bill of Crested Lark can be seen even in flight. While the wings are broad based, like all larks, Crested Lark has longer and less triangular wings than Eurasian Skylark, and overall appear bulkier, with a heavier head and body. It lacks the pale trailing edge to the wing and the white outer tail feathers shown by Eurasian Skylark, and has rufous-tinged underwings.
?? ?? TEN: Juvenile Crested Lark (Faro, Portugal, 22 July 2012). Juvenile Crested Larks show the same bulky body, large bill and spiky crest as the adults, as well as the pale-fringed feathers typical of juveniles. In the southern parts of its range Crested Lark overlaps with the very similar Thekla Lark; one way to tell them apart is to look at the bill shape, as Crested Lark has a straight lower edge to the long bill, though this difference can be subtle.
TEN: Juvenile Crested Lark (Faro, Portugal, 22 July 2012). Juvenile Crested Larks show the same bulky body, large bill and spiky crest as the adults, as well as the pale-fringed feathers typical of juveniles. In the southern parts of its range Crested Lark overlaps with the very similar Thekla Lark; one way to tell them apart is to look at the bill shape, as Crested Lark has a straight lower edge to the long bill, though this difference can be subtle.
?? ?? NINE: Juvenile Woodlark (Aljustrel, Portugal, 14 July 2016). This juvenile Woodlark also shows pale-fringed feathers, but with darker background tones giving a more strongly contrastin­g appearance, particular­ly on the head. The legs of Woodlark appear to be set further back on the body than Eurasian Skylark, due to the shorter tail, and it has a slightly more pointed bill. In the UK, juvenile Woodlarks can be found on heathlands, and in felled areas in forestry plantation­s.
NINE: Juvenile Woodlark (Aljustrel, Portugal, 14 July 2016). This juvenile Woodlark also shows pale-fringed feathers, but with darker background tones giving a more strongly contrastin­g appearance, particular­ly on the head. The legs of Woodlark appear to be set further back on the body than Eurasian Skylark, due to the shorter tail, and it has a slightly more pointed bill. In the UK, juvenile Woodlarks can be found on heathlands, and in felled areas in forestry plantation­s.
?? ?? EIGHT: Juvenile Eurasian Skylark (Picardie, France, July 2010). Eurasian Skylark nests on the ground in arable farmland, grasslands and uplands, and recently fledged juveniles can be encountere­d on the ground in these habitats. As in many species, juveniles have pale buff fringes to the feathers of the upperparts, giving them a patterned, paler appearance. While they have a pale superciliu­m, the feathering on the rest of the head is also light in colour, so the superciliu­m does not stand out in comparison. Shown in this photo is the species’ relatively short, stubby bill.
EIGHT: Juvenile Eurasian Skylark (Picardie, France, July 2010). Eurasian Skylark nests on the ground in arable farmland, grasslands and uplands, and recently fledged juveniles can be encountere­d on the ground in these habitats. As in many species, juveniles have pale buff fringes to the feathers of the upperparts, giving them a patterned, paler appearance. While they have a pale superciliu­m, the feathering on the rest of the head is also light in colour, so the superciliu­m does not stand out in comparison. Shown in this photo is the species’ relatively short, stubby bill.

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