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Photo by Steve G
- Alaudala rufescens
Calandrella rufescens
Identification
Dark-streaked greyish-brown above, and white below. It has a pale supercilium, and a short stubby bill. At least in the Iberian Peninsula, the distinct breast streaking contrasts sharply with the white lower breast (like Pectoral Sandpiper).
Distribution
Spain, north Africa, Turkey, Mongolia and China.
Taxonomy
16 subspecies of Lesser Short-toed Lark are recognized[1]:
- A.r. rufescens
- A.r. polatzeki
- A.r. apetzii
- A.r. minor
- A.r. nicolli
- A.r. pseudobaetica
- A.r. persica
- A.r. heinei
- A.r. cheleensis
- A.r. leucophaea
- A.r. niethammeri
- A.r. kukunoorensis
- A.r. seebohmi
- A.r. beicki
- A.r. stegmanni
- A.r. tangutica
Habitat
Dry open country, preferring dry and bare soils.
Behaviour
It nests on the ground, laying 2-3 eggs.
Diet includes seeds and insects, the latter especially in the breeding season.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Birdforum thread discussing the id of this species
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Mediterranean Short-toed Lark. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 25 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Mediterranean_Short-toed_Lark
