Titlark, the popular name of the small dentirostral birds of the family motacillidce, subfamily anthinoe, and genus anthus (Bechst.). They resemble the larks in their markings and in the long hind claw, and the wagtails in their movements and habits on the ground, and evidently are intermediate between these subfamilies. In this genus the bill is rather straight and slender, with the tip notched; wings very long, the first three quills equal and longest, and the tertials nearly as long as the primaries; tail moderate and slightly notched; tarsi and toes long and slender, the hind toe long with a very long sharp claw. The species are numerous, inhabiting most parts of the world and in every variety of region, some being migratory, others permanent residents. The nest is made upon the ground, of dry grass and stalks, lined with finer plants and hair; the eggs are four to six. The American titlark (A. Ludovicianus, Licht.) is 6½ in. long and 11 in. in alar extent; olive brown above, each feather darkest in the middle; beneath yellowish brown, the sides of the neck spotted longitudinally with dark brown; around eyes and superciliary stripe yellowish; central tail feathers like back, the others blackish brown, the external one mostly white and a white spot at the end of the second; primaries edged with whitish, and the other quills with pale brownish; bill and feet black.

It is very generally distributed over North America, extending to the Pacific and to Greenland, and is accidental in Europe. The flight is exceedingly easy and graceful; it occurs in flocks of tens or hundreds running fast on the ground. It is found in the fields, on the prairies, along rivers, and on the sea shore; the notes are clear and sharp tweets, the last much prolonged; it breeds as far N. as Labrador, both sexes incubating, and sitting so closely as almost to allow themselves to be trodden upon before flying; the eggs are six, 5/8 by ½ in., reddish brown, with darker dots and lines at the larger end. The Missouri titlark (neocorys Spraguei, Sclater), 5½ in. long and 9½ in. in extent of wings, in song and habits comes the nearest of American birds to the European skylark. - Among the European species, the most extensively distributed is the meadow titlark or pipit (A. pratensis, Bechst.), also called titling; it is 61/6 in. long and 9| in. in alar extent, olivaceous above, spotted, with dusky; brownish white below, tinged anteriorly with red; neck, sides, and fore part of breast with oblong brownish black spots.

It is of slender and elegant form, generally distributed over Europe, a permanent resident in Great Britain, and most abundant in meadows; it sings from the middle of April to the end of July, and rears two broods in a season; its notes are remarkably fine, the bird uttering them perched, seated, or flying, in the last case beginning at a considerable height, hovering a little while, and descending warbling to the ground. It is in the nest of this species that the cuckoo generally places its eggs.

American Titlark (Antlms Ludovicianus).