From Opus

Photo by Saurabh Sawant
Kaas, Satara, Maharashtra, India, September 2008

Galerida malabarica

[edit] Identification

Long spiky erectile crest. Dark and heavy streaking above. Rufous-buff flanks. Medium spotting on the breast. The sexes are similar.

[edit] Similar Species

Similar to Crested Lark but smaller, darker and heavily streaked above, rufous-buff below mainly on flanks. Pale rufous outer tail feathers. Can be confused with Oriental Skylark but less spotting on the breast, heavier bill and longer crest. Pale rufous outer tail feathers. Call is different.

Photo by mehtasa
Location: Ram Dharneshwar, Near Alibag, Maharashtra, India.

[edit] Distribution

Western India.

[edit] Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species¹, which in the past has been treated as conspecific with Thekla Lark.

[edit] Habitat

Open country, cultivation and scrub.

[edit] Behaviour

It nests on the ground, laying 2-3 eggs.

Diet includes seeds and insects.

[edit] References

1. Clements, James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019

[edit] External Links