Greater Short-toed Lark
The Greater Short-toed Lark is a small passerine bird and 8 sub-species have been described according to their geographical range. This includes the European Greater Short-toed Lark which is found in south Europe and on Mediterranean islands.
The Greater Short-toed Lark is a small pale lark which is smaller than the Skylark. It is dark-streaked greyish-brown above and white below. It has a strong pointed bill that is pinkish with a grey culmen and it has a pale supercilium, dark patches on each side of its neck and a dark tail. Some birds in the west of the range have a rufous crown. The sexes are similar. The song varies between a dry twittering and a more varied and imitative melody. Flocks will often fly together to water at favourite spots in the mornings. In the evenings, flocks will roost in open ground with each bird squatting in a small depression made in the soil.
The nominate form of the Greater Short-toed Lark breeds in Europe (Iberia, France, Italy, the Balkans and Romania) and winters south of the Sahara in Africa. Other sub-species breed in east Europe, north west Africa and across temperate Asia from Turkey and south Russia to Mongolia. It is also a fairly common vagrant to north and west Europe in spring and autumn.
The Greater Short-toed Lark is a common bird of dry open country and cultivation. It nests on the ground and feeds mainly on seeds and insects, the latter especially during the breeding season.
Date: 28th May 2018
Location: Enchets to Pudartsi, Eastern Rhodopes Mountains, Haskovo Province, Bulgaria
The Greater Short-toed Lark is a small pale lark which is smaller than the Skylark. It is dark-streaked greyish-brown above and white below. It has a strong pointed bill that is pinkish with a grey culmen and it has a pale supercilium, dark patches on each side of its neck and a dark tail. Some birds in the west of the range have a rufous crown. The sexes are similar. The song varies between a dry twittering and a more varied and imitative melody. Flocks will often fly together to water at favourite spots in the mornings. In the evenings, flocks will roost in open ground with each bird squatting in a small depression made in the soil.
The nominate form of the Greater Short-toed Lark breeds in Europe (Iberia, France, Italy, the Balkans and Romania) and winters south of the Sahara in Africa. Other sub-species breed in east Europe, north west Africa and across temperate Asia from Turkey and south Russia to Mongolia. It is also a fairly common vagrant to north and west Europe in spring and autumn.
The Greater Short-toed Lark is a common bird of dry open country and cultivation. It nests on the ground and feeds mainly on seeds and insects, the latter especially during the breeding season.
Date: 28th May 2018
Location: Enchets to Pudartsi, Eastern Rhodopes Mountains, Haskovo Province, Bulgaria
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Also in: Bulgaria
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