Larks are brownish birds that are easily recognized by their characteristic song, which they emit in high flights over the countryside.
Larks belong to the singing birds of the great order of Passeriformes. Larks are brownish-brown field birds, considerably larger than sparrows, speckled with darker patches. They look a lot like pipits, but they are sturdier and bigger, and have thicker beaks. Common skylarks have longer tails with lighter white edges than similar small larks.
Their wings are quite broad and have white rear edges visible during flight. They have ridges, although they are only noticed when birds raise them. (The rare common screech has a much longer and more permanently prominent ridge.) Common skylarks have brown legs, brown irises, and dark brown bills (lighter below).