[jonafly]

Boomleeuwerik.jpg
Saw this last month in Spain in the Ebro Delta. As far as I can tell this is Lullula arborea, but I'm not sure. Can anyone confirm this?


veldleeuwerik_juv.jpg
Is this a juvenile Alauda arvensis? Ebro Delta last month.

[Julian Sykes Wildlife]

Hello Jon
I think you could be right with these but the video-grabs are not the best.

[jonafly]

Yeah, it's always the poor shots that I can't really figure out. Just the way it is.

[Ghostly Vision]

André,

The first series certainly look like arborea - on the second-from right pic, where the bird is taking off, the white on the primary coverts can be seen.

The other pic could well be aervensis, but may also be a Thekla/Crested type - too difficult to tell from the grabs.

GV

[jonafly]

I think crested can be ruled out, Ghostly. There was no crest whatsoever (in my recollection), and I think even a completely flattened crest I would've seen. So leaves arvensis and theklae.

[Jane Turner]

I think the second bird looks more like a very juv Crestie/Thekla as opposed to Skylark too - though no way can you ever be sure.. Simple observation in the field of the colour of the outer tail feathers and whether or not there was a white trailing edge to the secondaries would have told you though.

[jonafly]

It's always the dilemma: do I first use my binoculars or my videocamera. If I use binocs first I often fail to grab it on film and as in this case I got it on film but failed to make out the right species. What can you do?

[lou salomon]

Originally Posted by Jane Turner

I think the second bird looks more like a very juv Crestie/Thekla as opposed to Skylark too - though no way can you ever be sure.. Simple observation in the field of the colour of the outer tail feathers and whether or not there was a white trailing edge to the secondaries would have told you though.

this is my feeling too (crested/theklae). i'd prefer thekla lark just because it sits on top of some herbs which i haven't seen in crested yet.

[Jane Turner]

Originally Posted by jonafly

It's always the dilemma: do I first use my binoculars or my videocamera. If I use binocs first I often fail to grab it on film and as in this case I got it on film but failed to make out the right species. What can you do?

Well withut wanting to sound patronising, can I advocate going for the binoculars and taking notes as your first reaction. That way you will identify a whole lot more for yourself.

[Edward woodwood]

wise words Jane

as it is, that bird will remain unidentified...

as Jane says, a few careful observations in the field should enable an identification to be made... or certainy make the photo a bit easier

Tim

[Jane Turner]

Actually I think I can see rufous outer tail in the left hand of the set which rules out Skylark!

[jonafly]

I'll label it as theklae then. Thank you all for help and suggestions.

André

[Julian Sykes Wildlife]

Originally Posted by jonafly

I'll label it as theklae then. Thank you all for help and suggestions.

André

I have heard it all now

[Edward woodwood]

[Jane Turner]

Originally Posted by jonafly

I'll label it as theklae then. Thank you all for help and suggestions.

André

Andre - you can label it as not Skylark, but more than that is pure fantasy I am afraid.

[Ghostly Vision]

I think that some of you are being a bit harsh on Andre here

Taking field notes from brief observations does require one to know which bits of each bird are important. Looking at a lark, one may start at the head, crest, breast streaks, leg and bill colour etc. By the time it has flown the outer tail feather , trailing edge to the wings, shape of the bill, etc, might all have been missed, still giving no i.d.

So, the extra advice is study the books for the difficult ones so you know where to start looking, check those features quickly, and then video it for confirmation if you are still stuck.

I do agree, the bird is Crested/Thekla, but not identifiable from the pics.

The shape of the lower mandible is diagnostic, though, isn't it? Convex or concave (though still can't quite see form the pics).

Cheers

GV