Crested & Thekla larks - Southern Portugal (1 Viewer)

saviornitho

Jérémy Savioz

• Jun 12, 2019

• #1

Hello,

Mid-april, I spend a few days with some birdwatcher collegues in southern Portugal, mainly in the Castro Verde region. The habitat is mostly composed by large grassland and steppe-like areas, with rocky soils in some places and other types of habitats (olive-tree or cork oak plantations, vineyards, etc.)

Although Crested Lark is presumably far more common than Thekla lark, both species can occur is some areas and we struggled to ID most of the birds we came across...

I post here pictures of 5 individuals. Can you please help ID each of them (if possible) and give some details about the major criteria ?

Thanks a lot

 

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rollingthunder

Well-known member

• Jun 13, 2019

• #2

This should be of some use - it has been posted elsewhere it is not mine:t:

Laurie -

 

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Simon Wates

Well-known member

• Jun 13, 2019

• #3

saviornitho said:

Although Crested Lark is presumably far more common than Thekla lark, both species can occur is some areas

Click to expand...

I'd say Thekla's is a little more numerous than Crested in the SPA Castro Verde

On a quick look, I think #2 and #4 are Crested and the remainder Thekla's.

 

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skbirder

Well-known member

• Jun 13, 2019

• #4

Simon Wates said:

On a quick look, I think #2 and #4 are Crested and the remainder Thekla's.

Click to expand...

I'd add #1 as Crested too, given the long droopy bill.

 

gerald762

Well-known member

• Jun 13, 2019

• #5

Apologies for hijacking the thread. Is this a Crested or Thekla? I think Crested, but open to correction!

 

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gerald762

Well-known member

• Jun 13, 2019

• #6

Forgot to say, taken in Andalucia, Spain

 

gerald762

Well-known member

• Jun 13, 2019

• #7

Same bird, more of a front view

 

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Blue Kangaroo

Active member

• Jun 13, 2019

• #8

saviornitho said:

Hello,

Mid-april, I spend a few days with some birdwatcher collegues in southern Portugal, mainly in the Castro Verde region. The habitat is mostly composed by large grassland and steppe-like areas, with rocky soils in some places and other types of habitats (olive-tree or cork oak plantations, vineyards, etc.)

Although Crested Lark is presumably far more common than Thekla lark, both species can occur is some areas and we struggled to ID most of the birds we came across...

I post here pictures of 5 individuals. Can you please help ID each of them (if possible) and give some details about the major criteria ?

Thanks a lot

Click to expand...

1. 2. 4. Crested Lark
3. 5 Thekla Lark
Can you see the difference in bill size between the shots of the birds. Also for me Theklas look to have a more rounded head. Which overall gives them a different shape.

 

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Blue Kangaroo

Active member

• Jun 13, 2019

• #9

gerald762 said:

Apologies for hijacking the thread. Is this a Crested or Thekla? I think Crested, but open to correction!

Click to expand...

Crested for me.

 

John Cantelo

Well-known member

• Jun 13, 2019

• #10

rollingthunder said:

This should be of some use - it has been posted elsewhere it is not mine:t:

Laurie -

Click to expand...

No, it's mine & it's a good thing I'm not precious about it being posted without acknowledgment! Personally, and others differ on this, I find bill shape the best and most reliable characteristic.

 

gerald762

Well-known member

• Jun 13, 2019

• #11

A very useful aid to identification. Thanks, John

 

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BobbitWorm45

Well-known member

• Jun 13, 2019

• #12

Agreed, great aid. I think you should add your name to the doc (If it isn't already?), John, so people know who to acknowledge, cheers

 

rollingthunder

Well-known member

• Jun 14, 2019

• #13

Cheers John - you are a good egg:t:

I haven’t been over to Tarifa in Sept for a coupla years as the last 2 visits were noticeably quieter for raptors but a jaunt is planned next year so i shall start perusing your pages..........again

Laurie:t:

 

John Cantelo

Well-known member

• Jun 14, 2019

• #14

rollingthunder said:

Cheers John - you are a good egg:t:

I haven’t been over to Tarifa in Sept for a coupla years as the last 2 visits were noticeably quieter for raptors but a jaunt is planned next year so i shall start perusing your pages..........again

Laurie:t:

Click to expand...

I've just finished my latest revision - PM me with your email address & I bounce them over to you (although by the time you go I'll probably have revised them again at least once).

 

John Cantelo

Well-known member

• Jun 14, 2019

• #15

As it happens the version of my guide to Crested/Thekla Lark ID posted here is a fairly early attempt of something I've revised & redrafted several times since. I think the version I'm posting below is a little better (although ideally, I ought to redraw the Thekla's as I'm not very happy with it & feel it needs improvement).

To be honest I didn't think anyone would be interested in posting it except me but following BobbitWorm's suggestion I've added my name to this 'edition'.

 

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rollingthunder

Well-known member

• Jun 14, 2019

• #16

Cheers John - can’t help but enquire, did you mean precocious?

Laurie:t: