Steppe Lark - description, habitat, interesting facts

Big birds have long been known for all their interesting behavior and naughty trill. Today we look at the representative of the larval family, which lives preferably in the steppe area. Birds perform complex songs of different pitch. That tremble, then softly hum. The trill of them is familiar to many, so let's look at other features associated with this species of feathered tribe.

Description and habitat

1. A lark is a large bird that can grow up to 65 grams by weight. with a body length of 20 cm. Individuals belong to a passerine squad, they are variegated in the upper part, and the chest is sandy in color.
2. The beak is reinforced, tight and large, bends. Paws are strong. The main feature of the feathered family of this species is the presence of dark brown markings in the throat area.
3. Also, the fact that when birds fly in the wing zone there is a snow-white edging on fly feathers can be attributed to the signs. By sex, the female and the male are almost the same, even people with experience are confused about this.
4. Birds are more common in Saudi Arabia, in the expanses of our homeland and nearby states. They are also found in Portugal, Egypt and other similar countries with warm and temperate climates.
5. As the name implies, birds like to live in the steppe. They prefer to be among the cereal cultivated fields, as well as in the grass with a decent amount of vegetation. Only warm, sun-warmed areas are chosen as habitats.
6. These birds can be attributed to migratory, but not all. Those individuals that live in warm zones do not leave heated places. Some can go to the south, but then before all return to the familiar environment. Birds fly massively in early spring, in some countries at this time there is snow.
7. At first, the places are occupied by individuals of the male gender and begin to sing loudly.This signal indicates that beautiful ladies will arrive soon. Birds look for thawed patches in the sun and gather in groups. When females arrive, specimens will look for nesting sites and take up breeding.

Nutrition

1. Birds absorb insects, thereby protecting crops from pests. Individuals do not affect cereal crops, only collect fallen grains.
2. However, weeds can be used as food, which later, together with droppings, begin to germinate among a good harvest. This destroys the grain fields. But even this fact does not block the benefits of the destruction of insects.
3. Larks can eat grains and blade of grass in the fields. From insects they like weevil, locust, flies, caterpillars with spiders, bread beetles, ants and leaf beetles.
4. Due to the elongated beak can feed on insects that live in the ground. Get them and destroy. As for drinking, individuals are more likely to inhabit fresh water than brackish watering places.

Nesting

1. As soon as the individuals in question return to the nesting sites, they begin to reproduce after about 3 weeks.Such birds, like everyone else, nest in pairs. Often the construction of the nest occurs on the ground. Birds can choose meadows, pastures and crops of agricultural crops.
2. Also, the homes of such birds are often found on the intestines, areas with sparse grass and damp places near water bodies. At the same time, birds can make their recesses by themselves or use ready ones. They can be formed from traces of ungulates.
3. It should be noted that the birds make quite loose nests. They equip it with straws, dry roots and stalks of grass. The bottom of the bird is covered with thin and soft blades of grass, horsehair. Sometimes you can see wool.
4. In most cases, the birds try to place their homes under small bushes. In such a place to find the nest is quite difficult, moreover, it is in the shade. In itself, the dwelling is small and therefore can fit in the palms of a person.
5. Often about 4-5 eggs are found in the clutch. The shell has almost no shine and is painted in dirty white and yellow colors. In addition, the eggs are decorated with dark patches of various sizes.

The enemies

1. The most common enemies of the field larks are small predators. Often among them are ferrets, weasels and foxes. Also for the birds considered some birds hunt. These can be loonies, falcons and ravens.
2. As soon as the larks begin to sing, the falcon can attack them at this time. It is during the mating season that the larks' males are the most vulnerable. Some birds manage to escape from predators. The larks fall like a stone down, and then dramatically change their trajectory.
3. The problem of the individuals in question is that they produce their singing at a high enough height from the ground. In such a place they put themselves in danger. It is a falcon that hunts on such small birds in flight.
4. In this case, the singer can be saved if he performs his signature fall in time. Unfortunately, it is in the mating season that a large number of males of the species under consideration perish. The larks are hunted both in the sky and on the ground.

Captivity

1. Poultry farmers love to keep steppe larks at home. They are considered the most singing birds. Moreover, such birds is very easy to contain.If a person begins to grow chicks and feed them with their hands, the bird quickly gets used.
2. To the lark did not miss, it is recommended to start several individuals at once. Even other subspecies are allowed. Thus, the birds will not be so aggressive and fearful. Birds can already start singing on the fifth day after they are caught.

Beautiful singing of larks is known to almost everyone. Such birds are not pests and are considered peace loving. However, the enemies in these individuals lacking. In the mating season, a large number of males perish due to predators.

Video: Steppe Lark (Melanocorypha calandra)