Steppe larks: description and habitat

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:54

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 sand-colored breast, with a thick, curved beak and strong legs. The hallmark of the bird is a double dark brown spot on the throat. Another sign appears during flights: snow-white extreme feathers, bordering the wings. The male and female are almost identical in appearance and size, making them very difficult to distinguish even for experienced poultry farmers.

Lovers of delightful trills highlight the song of this bird. Steppe larks sing in flight, performing complex, high notes, very beautiful melodies. The song is loud and crackling, but pleasant to the ear. That is why birds are very popular among lovers of living creatures.

Habitat

Steppe larks live in Russia, Ukraine, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Portugal, Libya and some other countries. They prefer steppe areas, fields with dense grass, cereal areas, choosing places warmed by the sun. Of the plants, wormwood, shaggy aster give a special advantage.and bluegrass viviparous, arranging nests under them. They live in warm areas year-round, often choosing these places for wintering.

Nesting characteristics

The nest of steppe larks is made from the leaves of cereal plants, roots and stalks of field grasses, in a hole under large grass bushes. 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 mottled, dirty green. Bird families settle at a distance of up to 100 meters from each other.

The female incubates the eggs for a little over two weeks and then feeds the chicks for the same amount of time. After a few months, young birds gather in flocks, sometimes reaching up to 200 individuals, and wander in search of food. Such folded groups are preserved until the flights. They are very noisy due to the singing that sounds in the spring and on warm autumn days.

Food

Poultry farmers note that the steppe lark has a certain feature. What a bird eats is a question that interests many. Flocks of birds destroy a huge number of harmful insects, protecting grass fields and seedlings of cereal crops. But the seeds of weeds retain the ability to germinate in the litter. Thus, the fields are sown with weeds that clog crops and spoil the harvest. The birds themselves do not touch the cereals, eating only grains that have fallen in the process of harvesting or ripening.

If we summarize all these observations, then the scales will tip in the direction of good, so the damage from harmful insects that destroy crops and ripeears are undoubtedly more significant than the damage from weeds that fall on the fields without the help of birds.

The steppe larks feed on grass seeds and grains that have fallen to the ground, finding them even under the snow. They eat insects such as locusts, leaf beetles, weevils, bread beetles, flies, ants, various caterpillars and spiders. The lark can reach insects burrowing on the surface of the earth with its beak. This bird drinks fresh water, but has also been seen at s alty watering places.

Captivity

Steppe larks are one of the favorite wild songbirds among poultry farmers. This is due to the simplicity of their content. Raised by the owner and hand-fed, they quickly get used to the person. The company of other larks will help to brighten up the loneliness of the bird, it can be of a different subspecies, which will reduce fearfulness and aggressiveness. Birds in captivity begin to sing on the fourth day, from morning until late evening, they tolerate electric lighting well. It is necessary to ensure that the conditions of detention are suitable for larks, otherwise they may become sick. Clean water should always be freely available so that the birds do not feel thirsty.

Which cage 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 due to the habit of flying up sharply when frightened. At the bottom of the cage is pouredclean sand 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. They feed larks with grain mixtures without hemp seeds, fresh and dry ant eggs, grated carrots, low-fat cottage cheese, breadcrumbs. The feed is first poured onto the sand, as the birds do not immediately get used to the feeders. They delight their owners with their songs 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 do not know what the steppe lark looks like, the photo will help you figure it out.

The touching image of this bird is also reflected in literature, sonorous singing is described in the stories of Turgenev and the poems of Alexei Tolstoy. And the Dagestan writer Kulunchakova has a story "The Steppe Lark", in which she compares strong and strong-willed women fighting for the right to love and be loved with this bird.