Rob Robinson

Large breeding distribution, from W Europe/NW Africa to E Asia. Also introduced in parts of Oceania (BirdLife International 2021). Populations vary from resident to migratory. In Europe, resident populations concentrate in the S and W, also British Islands, whilst migratory ones breed in the E and N. Wintering in Europe in the S and W part, up to N Africa (BirdLife International 2021).

Season of assessment

B

Population trendDecreasing
Population size
(min-max, best estimate)		87800000-132000000,106000000
Red List categoryLC
Franks, S., Fiedler, W., Arizaga, J., Jiguet, F., Nikolov, B., van der Jeugd, Ambrosini, R, Aizpurua, O., Bairlein, F., Clark, J., Fattorini, N, Hammond, M., Higgins, D, Levering, H., Skellorn, W., Spina, F, Thorup, K. Walker, J., Woodward, I. and Baillie, S.R. (1) (2022) Online Atlas of the movements of European bird populations. https://migrationatlas.org EURING/CMS (1) Principal investigator
Map

Overall Connectivity for Eurasian Skylark

Main migratory axis NE-SW; high convergence of populations in France-Iberia, main winter quarters for the Skylark in Europe. Birds breeding in further E regions (like E Europe) tend to overwinter also further E (reaching Italy besides Spain), though still great overlap between populations of different origin in winter, suggesting weak connectivity. British birds resident; ring-recovery data in this area show short range local movements. Few recoveries in N Africa (Morocco), since most birds remain in Europe. Passage through Gibraltar, indeed, small (Simms 1992). Females reported to migrate slightly earlier than males (Scebba et al. 2015, Schekkerman 1999). Differential migration; females overwinter further south than males (Donald 2004).

Recoveries by Condition for Eurasian Skylark

A huntable bird in several regions in Europe: a significant part of the recoveries are due to shooting (30%), even nowadays. This proportion, indeed, has remained rather constant over time. Almost 40% of recoveries due to birds captured alive for ringing; this proportion is increasing, passing from <10% before 1960 to 42% from 1991 to present. In part, this is caused by strong ringing effort in several regions across Europe.  

Annual Movements for Eurasian Skylark

First movements by Sep, with a peak in Oct, when migration is very active. Ringing in SW France suggests a “feed-by-day, fly-by-night’ strategy in autumn (Hargues et al. 2007), which would give rise to relatively slow speeds of migration. Migration in the day, however, also reported (Simms 1992). Return to breeding quarters detected as early as Feb, continues in Mar. By Apr, most skylarks are at their breeding sites. Within-winter movements can happen, especially under harsh conditions, when e.g. British birds can leave the islands and move to continental Europe (Donald et al. 2001).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Eurasian Skylark

Ring-recovery data suggest that Skylarks show rather similar temporal pattern of migration in all Europe. In Oct-Jan, high concentrations of recoveries in W/SW Europe, highlighting the Benelux and SW and SE France, where there is a strong ringing effort. Seemingly funnel effect in Pyrenees, with concentrations in their W and E edges. Skylarks ringed in Apr-Jul in E Europe (up to W Russia) mostly in Italy in winter.

Juan Arizaga

References

Statistics Map
N records N individuals N recoveries
Mapped data*
Total available data
*Mapped data include only distant (>= 50 km) recoveries
References Map
BirdLife International 2021 . Species factsheet: Alauda arvensis.
Donald, P. F.2004 . The Skylark. T & AD Poyser, London
Donald, P. F., Vickery, J. A. (Eds.)2001 . The Ecology and Conservation of Skylarks Alauda arvensis. RSPB, Sandy
Hargues, R., Girardot, P., Ibañez, F., Mourguiart, P., Recarte, J.2007 . Migration of the Skylark Alauda arvensis along the Southern French Atlantic coast. Wildl. Biol. Pract. 3: 93–104
Scebba, S., Soprano, M., Sorrenti, M.2015 . Sex-specific migration patterns and population trends of Skylarks Alauda arvensis ringed during autumn migration in southern Italy. Ringing & Migration 30: 12–21
Schekkerman, H.1999 . Sex bias and seasonal patterns in tape‐lured samples of migrating skylarks Alauda arvensis. Ringing & Migration 19: 299–305
Simms, E.1992 . British Larks, Pipits & Wagtails. Harper Collins, London

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