A simultaneous assessment of farmland habitat use by breeding skylarks and yellowhammers.

Abstract

Skylark (Alauda arvensis) and yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) nests were monitored on an arable farm in East Leicestershire throughout the breeding season. Observations of foraging birds and compositional analysis were used to determine habitat use relative to its availability. Managed set-aside was identified as an important foraging habitat for both species. Skylarks made greater use of kale-based crop mixtures, while yellowhammers made greater use of cereal-based crops relative to their availability. Flexibility of crop composition within future agri-environment options will permit widest conservation benefits to birds on farmland.