Skylark in flight; (c) Stefan Johansson
Songbird Saturday: the Skylark
Listen to the Skylark singing in Montgomeryshire
Skylark singing, Montgomeryshire; (c) Martin Neil
Hail to thee, blithe Spirit! Bird thou never wert, That from Heaven, or near it, Pourest thy full heart In profuse strains of unpremeditated art
It’s no coincidence that the song of the Skylark has captured the hearts and imaginations of myriad poets, writers and musicians over the centuries.
Carrying over farmland, moors and mountains, heath and coast from March until early summer, this rich, liquid melody is a babbling stream that dances around the ears and announces spring is here!
The Skylark’s song is unusual in that the male takes to the air in a vertical display flight to deliver his solo masterpiece – unlike that of many birds, who sing from a perch – giving the sound an ethereal quality as it descends from on high.
The tune rises and falls, with hundreds of syllables of a similar pitch, for several continuous minutes – for this is a bird who has mastered circular breathing – with whistles, warbles and trills, before the Skylark ends his song and plunges to the ground. Each vocal performance is an unforgettable moment of nature connection for those lucky enough to experience it.
Like most songbirds, the male Skylark sings to attract would-be mates and defend his territory. In this way, the song is a demonstration of prowess, and it’s thought that the longer and more varied his song, the fitter and healthier he will be perceived, making him more attractive to female Skylark.
A small, streaky brown lark with a crest, the Skylark would be easily overlooked if it wasn’t for its showstopping voice. Once you hear this, it’s usually possible to get ears on the bird, usually hovering effortlessly on the breeze.
A favourite of many bird-lovers and countryphiles, the Skylark song is made even more precious by its increasing scarcity. Since the Second World War, its numbers have plummeted, due to factors such as intensive farming and pesticide use, and this once-common bird is now red-listed. Nesting on the ground, the bird is especially vulnerable to disturbance from dogs off leads, so keeping your pet on a lead from March to September in places where they might be, as well as sticking to paths, is a good idea to keep them safe.
It would be unthinkable if the magical, musical, babbling song of the Skylark was confined to songs and poems from days gone by.
