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BTO Blueline
WOODLARK
Lullula arborea

Woodlark © Derek Belsey
 
Conservation listings
Europe: SPEC category 2 (depleted)
UK: red (>50% distribution decline)
Long-term trend
UK: increase
Distribution maps
Maps and statistics from British and Irish
atlases can be viewed here.
Status summary
This species is too rare and restricted for annual population changes to be monitored by BTO observers. Sitters et al. (1996) report that the population increased from c.250 pairs in 1986 to c.600 pairs in 1993, probably helped by recent mild winters and increased habitat availability due to storm damage in plantations, forest restocking, and heathland management. A new national survey in 1997 showed that the population had increased further to c.1550 pairs (Wotton & Gillings 2000; for more information, click here). Nest failure rates at the egg stage (17 days, comprising 14 days incubation and 3 days laying) have declined, at least since 1975, and clutch sizes have increased.
Annual breeding population changes for this species
are not currently monitored by BTO
Table of productivity information for Woodlark
Variable Period
(yrs)		 Years Mean
annual
sample		 Trend Predicted
in first year		 Predicted
in last year		 Change Comment
Clutch size 34 1968-2002 15 Curvilinear 3.36 eggs 3.63 eggs 0.27 eggs Small sample
Brood size 34 1968-2002 25 None       Small sample
Daily failure rate (eggs) 34 1968-2002 18 Linear decline 0.0355 nests/day 0.015 nests/day -0.0205 nests/day Small sample
Daily failure rate (chicks) 34 1968-2002 26 Linear increase 0.0143 nests/day 0.0335 nests/day 0.0192 nests/day Small sample
Laying date 34 1968-2002 17 None       Small sample
Clutch size graph
Brood size graph
Egg nest failure graph
Chick nest failure graph

Laying date graph

 

Insufficient data on CES
available for this species

 
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This report should be cited as:
Baillie, S.R., Marchant, J.H., Crick, H.Q.P., Noble, D.G., Balmer, D.E., Beaven, L.P., Coombes, R.H.,
Downie, I.S., Freeman, S.N., Joys, A.C., Leech, D.I., Raven, M.J., Robinson, R.A. and Thewlis, R.M. (2005)
Breeding Birds in the Wider Countryside: their conservation status 2004.
BTO Research Report No. 385. BTO, Thetford. (http://www.bto.org/birdtrends)

Pages maintained by Susan Waghorn and Iain Downie: Last updated 18 January, 2006