(Alaudidae), a family of birds of the order of Passeriformes. The lark’s body length ranges from 12 to 25 cm, and it is an earthen color, frequently with spots on the jugulum and chest. There are about 70 species, which are found chiefly in Africa, Asia, and Europe. America and Australia each have only a single species. In the USSR there are 14 species, including the skylark (Alauda arvensis), the crested \\ark(Galerida cristata), the horned lark (Eremophila alpestris), the calandra lark (Melanocorypha calandra), and the wood lark (Lullula arbor ea). These birds are inhabitants of open areas such as fields, steppes, deserts, mountain meadows, and more rarely forest clearings. Their nests are on the ground and they feed on seeds and insects. Outside of the nesting period, they live in flocks. Those who live in northern areas migrate south in winter, and mountain species descend to the valleys for the cold months.