The Skylark (Alauda arvensis) is a brown-streaked bird with a small crest and a white-sided tail, a little larger than a sparrow but smaller than a starling. Skylarks like open countryside and can be heard or seen in the High Weald’s grasslands, heathland and farmland, often starting to breed in March.
Inconspicuous on the ground, the males are easier to see during their distinctive vertical song flight, displaying high up in the sky. Even if you haven’t seen a Skylark, you may have heard its variable song.
Now a threatened bird species, Skylarks nest on the ground and feed on seeds and insects. Farmers can help them by providing suitable places for them to nest and feed.
More information
For advice on how to manage farmland for Skylarks visit the RSPB website.
Hear the Skylark’s song on the RSPB website.