Eurasian skylark

Characteristics

A bunting-sized bird with a brown body. The back is a mixture of brown and light brown, and it hides well in bushes. The belly is white and the legs are flesh colored. There are times when the crest on the head stands on end. A white brow patch is running.In some regions, it is also called 'Koutenshi'.

Calls

Not in a continuous high-pitched voice. When hovering, it may continue to call for more than a minute.

Rising skylark

While singing, it jumps high into the sky and sometimes hovers for a while, this behavior is called "rising skylark". This behavior, which is often seen on riverbeds, is thought to represent the male's territorial declaration.

Ecology

Inhabits riverbeds and grasslands. It eats plant seeds and insects. They forage on the ground and build nests on the ground. During the breeding season, they act in pairs, and the male actively declares his territory. In some areas, the lark's habitat is declining as suitable grasslands for breeding are declining.

Habitat

I took this photo on the riverbed near the Tama Ohashi Bridge, in the middle of the Tama River. A couple of pairs were on the riverbed, chirping loudly. Once every few minutes, the male began to hover and fly high into the air. It continued to rise for over a minute. I think it's great stamina.

Nearby, we saw birds such as the Little-finished Plover that live in the riverbed, reed-dwelling birds such as the Great Reed Warbler and Sekka, and the Kestrel that threatens them. It is interesting to see the secca, skylark, and kestrel all living in the same riverbed hovering.

Video

The video of the Eurasian skylark.