Alaudidae
Small to medium passerines known for elaborate songs and ground nests.
Larks are a family of passerine birds called Alaudidae. They are found across the globe, though most species live in Africa. Only one species, the horned lark, is native to North America, and only Horsfield's bush lark lives in Australia. While larks occupy many different habitats, a large number prefer dry areas. When people say "lark" without specifying which one, they usually mean the Eurasian skylark (Alauda arvensis).
The family Alaudidae was first described in 1825 by Irish zoologist Nicholas Aylward Vigors, who placed it as a subfamily within the finch family Fringillidae. Larks are a clearly defined group, partly due to the structure of their lower leg bones. Unlike most songbirds, which have a single plate on the back of their tarsi, larks have multiple scales there. They also lack a pessulus, a small bony part found in the syrinx of other songbirds. For a long time, larks were classified near the beginning of the songbird group, just after the suboscines and before swallows, as seen in early checklists from the American Ornithologists' Union. Some authorities, like the British Ornithologists' Union and the *Handbook of the Birds of the World*, still follow this arrangement. However, many other classifications, following the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy, place larks within a large subgroup of songbirds called Passerida, which excludes crows, shrikes, vireos, and many groups from Australia and Southeast Asia. The American Ornithologists' Union, for instance, now places larks just after crows, shrikes, and vireos. At a more detailed level, some researchers place larks at the start of a superfamily called Sylvioidea, alongside swallows, various Old World warblers, and babblers. Molecular studies have shown that within Sylvioidea, larks are the sister group to the family Panuridae, which contains only the bearded reedling (*Panurus biarmicus*). A review of lark phylogeny in 2013 led to the classification shown below. The genus-level diagram is based on a 2023 molecular study by Per Alström and colleagues, who also proposed the subfamilies. For two species—the rusty bush lark (*Mirafra rufa*) and Gillett's lark (*Mirafra gilletti*)—the results conflict with the July 2023 online taxonomy from the International Ornithological Committee; these species were found to belong within the genus *Calendulauda*.
- Family
- Alaudidae
- Number of extant species
- 98
- Number of extant genera
- 24
- Size range
- 12 to 24 cm in length
- Mass range
- 15 to 75 g
- Distribution
- Cosmopolitan, with most species in Africa
- Distinctive feature
- Multiple scutes on hind side of tarsi; lack a pessulus
Lore & Background
The family Alaudidae was introduced in 1825 by Irish zoologist Nicholas Aylward Vigors as a subfamily of Fringillidae. Larks are a well-defined family, partly because of the shape of their tarsus: they have multiple scutes on the hind side of their tarsi, rather than the single plate found in most songbirds. They also lack a pessulus, the bony central structure in the syrinx of songbirds. Their taxonomic placement has been debated; some authorities place them near the beginning of the songbirds, while others follow the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy in placing them within a large oscine subgroup Passerida. Molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that within the superfamily Sylvioidea, larks form a sister clade to the family Panuridae, which contains only the bearded reedling.
Larks are small to medium birds, 12 to 24 cm in length and 15 to 75 g in mass. Most have streaked brown plumage, some boldly marked with black or white, which camouflages them on the ground. They feed on insects and seeds; adults of most species eat seeds primarily, but all species feed their young insects for at least the first week after hatching. Many species dig with their bills to uncover food. Larks are the only passerines that lose all their feathers in their first moult. They have more elaborate calls than most birds, and often extravagant songs given in display flight. Male larks use song flights to defend their breeding territory and attract a mate. Most species build nests on the ground, usually cups of dead grass, and their eggs are usually speckled.
Reader's Guide
Larks have a prominent place in literature and music, especially the Eurasian skylark in northern Europe and the crested lark and calandra lark in southern Europe. Their melodious sounds, combined with a willingness to expand into anthropogenic habitats, have ensured their cultural significance. In mythology and literature, the lark stands for daybreak, as in Chaucer's 'The Knight's Tale' and Shakespeare's Sonnet 29. It is also associated with lovers and church services. Percy Bysshe Shelley's poem 'To a Skylark' and George Meredith's 'The Lark Ascending' are notable literary works. Ralph Vaughan Williams composed a musical setting of Meredith's poem, 'The Lark Ascending', for violin and orchestra. Larks have historically been consumed as food, considered wholesome and delicate game, and their tongues were particularly valued as a delicacy. In modern times, shrinking habitats have made lark meat rare, though it can still be found in restaurants in Italy and elsewhere in southern Europe. Traditionally, larks are kept as pets in China, where they are taught to mimic the voices of other songbirds and animals. The expression 'up with the lark' refers to a person who is awake early in the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Alaudidae?
Alaudidae is a family of small to medium-sized passerine birds commonly called larks. They measure roughly 12 to 24 cm in length and weigh between 15 and 75 grams.
How many lark species exist today?
The family currently contains 98 extant species distributed across 24 genera. The overwhelming majority of this diversity is concentrated in Africa, though larks are found on every inhabited continent.
Where do larks live?
Larks have a cosmopolitan range, but most species are native to Africa. In North America only the horned lark is indigenous, and Australia hosts a single representative, Horsfield's bush lark.
What are larks known for?
Larks are celebrated for their elaborate, often aerial songs and for building their nests on the ground. While they occupy a wide variety of habitats, many species strongly prefer dry, open environments.
Which bird do people usually mean when they simply say 'lark'?
In everyday usage the unqualified word 'lark' most often refers to the Eurasian skylark (Alauda arvensis). The family itself was first formally described in 1825 by Irish zoologist Nicholas Aylward Vigors.
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