Hi Con,
Both Eurasian Skylarks and Australasian Pipits will drop rapidly and vertically
in flight. This descent is sometimes achieved with the tail cocked and the
wings swept back (more typical for pipits) - in a 'parachuting' mode somewhat
similar to a Brown Songlark but not nearly as exaggerated. I would say that the
pipits tend to float down a bit slower on average than is typical for Skylarks
which can drop very quickly if not 'vertically' as you state.
Skylarks will often hover steadily at one height for minutes at time, often up
to 100m up (or until they are virtually out of view, but you always still here
them). I think this prolonged singing from on high is the main part of the
display/territorial show and when they are done they will often stop singing
completely and plummet rapidly. For them the show is over.
For the pipits, the show is as much about the descent and they will rarely
maintain a prolonged hovering in a stationary position. They will often only
ascend to 15-20m (rarely much more than 25m during display flights) and will
often sing as strongly during the descent (which may be stepped - drop 4m,
sing, drop 4m, sing etc). But variations upon this do include dropping steadily
from 20m or so. The calls usually sort it out pretty easily too.
Overall, I would say it is much commoner to see a Skylark dropping quickly and
vertically to the ground. The Aus Pipits display flights are far less prolonged
and I think restricted to a much more condensed period of the year (it is
probably more solely for attracting a mate than holding a territory through the
spring-summer). But others may correct me on this.
I just noticed you wrote 'Australasian Skylark' so maybe I am answering the
wrong question. Is this another name for 'Singing Bushlark' or 'Horsfield's
Bushlark' that I am unaware of?
Cheers Dan
Dr Daniel Mantle
Timescales Project
Geoscience Australia
Ph. +61 (2) 6249 5831 (work)
-----Original Message-----
From: con
Sent: Monday, 21 September 2009 4:47
To: COG list
Subject: Australasian Skylark/Richard's Pipit behaviour (vertical descent) - a
question
Does anyone know which (or both) of skylarks and pipits drop rapidly and
vertically in flight? I saw this at Gungahlin Hill Nature Reserve the
other day and am hoping that the behaviour is diagnostic.
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