Skylark
Fuiseog
Alauda avensis
Status :
Scrubland, Resident
Size : 18 cm
Wingspan : 30-36 cm
The skylark is a brown and rather nondescript bird until it is in flight where its sharp trilling echos across area of scrubland typically close to water and often with cattle in the same field. The bird lifts into the air and appears to hover often moving away in an attempt to move a potential threat away from its nesting site.
The skylark nests on the ground and is often seen sitting on fence posts keeping a close eye for predators. As skylarks are quite social birds they can often be seen occupying fenceposts in rows and upto 20 birds keeping watch in a single row is not uncommon.
The bird pictured above is a juvenile Skylark as can be seen from the under-developed tail feathers, whilst it is never a good idea to handle birds this one was in danger of getting trampled by cows so it was relocated a short distance away and out of immediate danger.
Photograph taken at Doonis Lough, Spring 2005