Woodlark, Boomleeuwerik, Heidelerche, Totovia, Cotovia pequena
Spotted on our property Monte Horizonte in the Alentejo Region of Portugal. Woodlark sound
The Woodlark (Lullula arborea) is the only lark in the genus Lullula. It breeds across most of Europe, the Middle East Asia and the mountains of north Africa. It is mainly resident in the west of its range, but eastern populations of this passerine bird are more migratory, moving further south in winter. Even in the milder west of its range, many birds move south in winter.
More photos at the bottom of this page.
This is a 13.5-15 cm long bird of open heath with some trees, and other open woodlands, especially those with pines and light soil. Its generic name derives from its sweet plaintive song, delivered in flight from heights of 100 m or more.
Like most other larks, this is an undistinguished-looking species on the ground, mainly brown above and pale below, but with distinctive white superciliar meeting on the nape. In flight it shows a short tail and short broad wings. The tail is tipped with white, but unlike the Skylark, the tail sides and the rear edge of the wings are not edged with white.
The nest is on the ground, with up to 6 eggs being laid. Food is seeds supplemented with insects in the breeding season.
Other synonyms:
Asturian: Campanina
Breton: An alc’hweder gwez
Catalan: Cotoliu
Catalan (Balears): Cotoliu
Czech: skøivan lesní, Skrivan lesní
Welsh: Ehedydd y coed, Esgudogyll, Uchedydd y coed
Danish: Hedelærke
German: Heidelerche
English: Wood Lark, Woodlark
Esperanto: arbalaûdo
Spanish: Alondra Totovía, Totavía, Totovia, Totovía
Estonian: Nommelooke, Nõmmelõoke
Basque: Cotoliu , Pirripioa
Finnish: Kangaskiuru
Faroese: Trælerkur
French: Alouette lulu
Irish: Fuiseog Choille
Gaelic: Riabhag-Choille, Uiseag-Choille
Galician: Cotoliu , Cotovía pequena
Croatian: Ševa Krunica
Hungarian: Erdei pacsirta
Armenian: Antarayin Artuyt
Icelandic: Trjálævirki
Italian: Tottavilla
Japanese: morihibari
Cornish: Awhesyth cos
Latin: Lullula arborea
Dutch: Boom leeuwerik, Boomleeuwerik
Norwegian: Trelerke
Polish: Dzierlatka, lerka, lerka (skowronek borowy), Skowronek borowy
Portuguese: cotovia pequena, Cotovia-pequena
Romansh: Lodola da guaud
Russian: Yula
Slovak: Ékovránok stromový, Škovránik stromový, škovránok stromový
Slovenian: hribski škrjanec
Albanian: Drenja
Serbian: šumska ševa
Swedish: Trädlärka
Turkish: orman toygary
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