Description
The skylark is a small bird with predominantly light brown plumage and darker streaks, which provide excellent camouflage in fields and grasslands. Its melodious, prolonged song—often sung while in flight—is one of its most distinctive features. It feeds mainly on insects and seeds. It is a migratory species, present in Europe during spring and summer, while it winters in warmer regions. It nests on the ground, choosing open grassy areas. The breeding season runs from April to July. An interesting fact is its ability to fly vertically, which it uses to sing while in flight.
The Situation in Italian-Speaking Switzerland
The skylark population has declined in Switzerland due to the rise of intensive agriculture. The species currently nests only in alpine meadows. It was once widespread in lowland agricultural areas as well; it has now completely disappeared from those areas. The main threats to the species are the intensification of agriculture—particularly the mechanization of mowing and the use of pesticides for pairs in the lowlands—and the abandonment of agricultural management, resulting in the closure of open spaces and the encroachment of forests for pairs in the mountains. Populations are in sharp decline, especially below 1,500 meters in elevation, while above this altitude they remain stable.
- Alauda arvensis
- Alouette des champs
- Feldlerche
- Londra da prada
- Eurasian Skylark
- 18 cm
- 30–36 cm
