Scientific name: Lullula arborea (Linnaeus, 1758)
Bird group: Larks
Field characters. 15 cm. Smaller than Common Skylark. Short crest and tail, black-and-white mark on forewing, distinct long white supercilium and call are best field characters. Plumage otherwise brown with dark streaks, white below with finely black streaked chest. White tips on tail, no white outer tail feathers. Usually seen in singles or small parties, never in large flocks like Skylark or other larks. Resembles a small bat in flight because of short tail. Flight more butterfly-like than in Skylark.
Voice. Call fluent 'louieet' or 'too-looiet'. Song a beautiful series of descending fluting tones, given in flight or from ground, accelerating towards end, with characteristic 'lu...lu..lu..lululululu'. Often sings at night.
Distribution. Summer visitor in north-east, resident elsewhere, but roaming around after breeding season, like other larks. Rather common but locally decreasing in number.
Habitat. Mainly dry areas with low vegetation, with barren ground and scattered bushes and trees, like heather, moorland, and forest clearings.
Food. In summer mainly insects and invertebrates, in winter seeds. Almost always feeding on bare ground and between vegetation.