The Lark is a large bird with a body weight of 52–67 grams and a length of about 20 centimeters, from the order of Passeriformes, mottled on top, with a breast of sand-colored, with a thick, curved beak and strong legs. A distinctive sign of the bird is a double dark brown spot on the throat. Another symptom manifests itself during flights: snow-white extreme feathers bordering the wings. Male and female are almost identical in appearance and size, so it is very difficult to distinguish them even from experienced poultry farmers.
Lovers of delicious trills sing out the song of this bird. Steppe larks sing in flight, performing complex, with high notes, very beautiful melodies. The song is sonorous and crackling, but pleasant by ear. That is why birds are very popular among wildlife lovers.
Habitat
Steppe larks live in Russia, Ukraine, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Portugal, Libya and some other countries. Prefer steppe areas, fields with dense grass, cereal areas, choosing places warmed by the sun. Of the plants, wormwood, the hairy aster and the viviparous bluegrass give particular advantage to plants, arranging nests under them. In warm areas they live year-round, often choosing these places for wintering.
Nesting Features
Steppe larks nest from leaves of cereal plants, roots and stalks of field grasses, in a hole under large bushes of grass. It is extremely rare to see them in dry horse manure or under a stone. The female lays from 3 to 6 eggs (which is extremely rare). They are spotty, dirty green in color. Bird families settle at a distance of 100 meters from each other.
The female hatches eggs for a little over two weeks and then feeds the chicks as much again. After a few months, young birds hatch in flocks, sometimes reaching up to 200 individuals, and migrate in search of food. Such formed groups are preserved until the flights. They are very noisy due to the singing that sounds in the spring and on warm autumn days.
Nutrition
Poultry farmers note that it has a certain feature of the steppe lark. What the bird eats is a question that interests many. Flocks of birds destroy a huge number of harmful insects, protecting grass fields and seedlings of cereals. But weed seeds retain the ability to germinate in the litter. Thus, the fields are sowed with weeds that clog crops and spoil the crop. The birds themselves do not touch the cereals themselves, eating only the grains that fell during the collection or ripening.
If to summarize all these observations, then the scales will lean towards benefits, so the damage from harmful insects, destroying crops and ripe ears is undoubtedly more than the damage from weeds that fall on the fields and without the help of birds.
Steppe larks feed on grass seeds and grains that have fallen to the ground, finding them even under the snow. They use the following insects for food : locusts, leaf beetles, weevils, bread beetles, flies, ants, various caterpillars and spiders. The lark can reach with its beak insects burrowing on the surface of the earth. This bird drinks fresh water, but is also seen in salt watering places.
Captivity
Steppe larks are one of the most favorite wild songbirds among poultry farmers. This is due to the simplicity of their content. Grown by the owner and fed from the hands, they quickly get used to the person. The company of other larks will help to brighten up the loneliness of a bird, you can use another subspecies, which will reduce shyness and aggressiveness. Birds begin to sing in captivity on the fourth day, from morning to late evening, well tolerate electric lighting. Care must be taken to ensure that the conditions are suitable for larks, otherwise they may become ill. Clear water should always be available so that the birds do not feel thirsty.
What cell to get?
Steppe larks, the description of which indicates that it is better to choose cages for keeping with high sides and a soft roof, and also with a retractable bottom, do not like discomfort. A soft roof is needed so that the bird does not break its head because of the habit of abruptly flying up in fright. At the bottom of the cage, pure sand is poured with a layer of about 15 centimeters, large stones and pieces of wood are laid out.
These birds almost never sit on branches and bushes. Larks are fed grain mixtures without hemp seeds, fresh and dry ant eggs, grated carrots, low-fat cottage cheese, and breadcrumbs. The feed is first poured on the sand, as the birds do not immediately get used to the feeders. They delight their hosts for about 10 years with the right content. They die in the spring and, as a rule, unexpectedly and very quickly. For people who want to buy birds, but don’t know what the steppe lark looks like, the photo will help you figure it out.
The touching image of this bird was also reflected in literature, sonorous singing is described in Turgenev’s novels and poems by Alexei Tolstoy. And the Dagestan writer Kulunchakova has a story “Steppe Lark”, in which she compares with this bird strong and strong-willed women fighting for the right to love and be loved.