From Opus

Galerida theklae

Photo by averity
Location: Extremadura, Spain.

[edit] Identification

It has a long spiky erectile crest. Dark-streaked grey above and whitish below, grey underwings. The sexes are similar.

[edit] Similar species

Crested Lark

[edit] Distribution

Iberia, northern Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Somalia.

[edit] Taxonomy

Galerida theklae has 12 subspecies.^[1]

[edit] Habitat

Dry open country, often at some altitude.

• Specifically for Iberia:
  
  • Rocky or stony soil with stones larger than about 1cm diameter.
  • Presence of shrubs from about 20cm to over 1m and can include some trees usually oaks (Cork and Holm Oak) or Pines (Stone and Maritime)
  • Percentage of woody vegetation cover sparse to 100% - usually scrub.
  • In areas with high cover they can be on sandy soils, fixed dunes and heaths etc.
  • Some bare ground at least - tracks are sufficient.
  • Habitats usually covering large or very large areas with low human impact.

[edit] Behaviour

It nests on the ground, laying 2-6 eggs.

The diet includes weed seeds and insects, the latter especially in the breeding season.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist.
2. Birdforum discussion of habitat choice

• List of references

[edit] External Links