Eurasian skylark – Alauda arvensis

he Eurasian skylark (Alauda arvensis) is a small passerine bird species. The current genus name is from Latin alauda, “lark”. Pliny thought the word was originally of Celtic origin. The specific arvensis is also Latin, and means “of the field”.

This lark breeds across most of Europe and Asia and in the mountains of north Africa. It is mainly resident in the west of its range, but eastern populations are more migratory, moving further south in winter. Even in the milder west of its range, many birds move to lowlands and the coast in winter. Asian birds appear as vagrants in Alaska; this bird has also been introduced in Hawaii, Canada, United States, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, the Falkland Islands, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.[3] The Japanese skylark is now usually considered a subspecies.

Like most other larks, the Eurasian skylark is a rather dull-looking species on the ground, being mainly brown above and paler below. It has a short blunt crest on the head, which can be raised and lowered. In flight it shows a short tail and short broad wings. The tail and the rear edge of the wings are edged with white, which are visible when the bird is flying away, but not if it is heading towards the observer. The Eurasian skylark has sturdy legs and spends much time on the ground foraging for seeds, supplemented with insects in the breeding season.

The Eurasian skylark makes a grass nest on the ground, hidden among vegetation. It is sometimes found nesting in bracken, using it for cover. Generally the nests are very difficult to find. Three to six eggs are laid in June. A second or third brood may be started later in the year. The eggs are yellow/white with brownish/purple spots mainly at the large end. The Eurasian skylark is a host of the brood-parasitic Common cuckoo.

It sounds like this
Recording by Dare Å ere from Xeno canto