Skylark (Alauda arvensis)

Mostly associated with farmland and large rural spaces, I was genuinely surprised and delighted to find a small number of this fascinating bird in a field not far from Brighton Centre, close to a busy road.

Watch this video closely and see if you can spot what the female in the first half of the video is eating (answer in the accompanying commentary).

If it's what i think it is, I believe it's outside of the range normally associated with this species?

comments (3)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Definitely interesting. I would speculate it's an act of desperation for a lack of suitable food. This paper somehow goes into it, although it does not mention frogs:
https://www.vogelbescherming.nl/docs/5c6d69da-1be5-4cac-8392-15f8c035aa1d.pdf Posted 3 years ago
1. Philip Booker
  
  Lion
  
  That though crossed my mind, partly because they normally prefer large fields where they can keep away from the edges and this wasn't a particularly large space, width-wise, although it was quite long.
  
  Having said that, it's been a very mild winter indeed and there are more insects and young shoots around than usual, which should suit them? Posted 3 years ago
2. 1. Philip Booker
    
    Lion
    
    I'm working my way through that Report.... Posted 3 years ago

The Eurasian skylark

The Eurasian skylark is a passerine bird in the lark family, Alaudidae. It is a widespread species found across Europe and the Palearctic with introduced populations in New Zealand, Australia and on the Hawaiian Islands. It is a bird of open farmland and heath, known for the song of the male, which is delivered in hovering flight from heights of 50 to 100 metres.

Info 10 1

Similar species: Perching Birds

Species identified by Philip Booker