John In Ireland
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Lark ID Algarve (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter John In Ireland
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Simon Wates
Well-known member
Its a Thekla's alright - apart from the fact that only this one has been recorded from the Sagres area, where very common, the convex lower mandible shows well on your photo. Also the photo captures the deeper brown tones to the upperparts that are quite different from Crested.
Nutcracker
Stop Brexit!
John In Ireland
Well-known member
Where were they taken?
Nutcracker
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Simon Wates
Well-known member
At first I thought this to be Crested Lark - but on a closer look at the bill, the lower mandible seems to be overgrown, which throws things a bit (must be the same bird). Can't see the length of the 1st primary. It would be good to glimpse the colour of the central tail/lower rump and the underwing and to hear it! With these photos I can't be sure.
So go on - where were they taken
Nutcracker
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At first I thought this to be Crested Lark - but on a closer look at the bill, the lower mandible seems to be overgrown, which throws things a bit (must be the same bird). Can't see the length of the 1st primary. It would be good to glimpse the colour of the central tail/lower rump and the underwing and to hear it! With these photos I can't be sure.
So go on - where were they taken
Thanks! Crested was my conclusion from the bill shape, but they were taken at Sagres, on the clifftop area above the harbour at 37.007612°N 8.928895°W, and therefore at a location where Crested Larks are strictly prohibited, By Order 8-P
I've got some other pics of this and the other 2-3 Galerida larks there, mostly somewhat blurred though. I'll see if any show the tail & lower rump (no underwings though, I avoided flushing them). Silent, too, from what I recollect. Pics April 2016.
Simon Wates
Well-known member
There is no doubt that Thekla's is the abundant Galerida throughout the Sagres peninsula but during Atlas work in the early 2000s Crested was found not far from your observation - on the other side of the harbour, by Martinhal beach. This site has beach, some dunes, a dry saltmarsh and dusty car parks, quite typical Crested habitat. However, since then, every time I go I can only find Thekla's. There are just a few Cresteds around the village of Raposeira on agricultural land - some 8kms east of Sagres. Its good to keep an open mind but around Sagres on a decent view its been invariably Thekla's for me and for everyone who knows the area thoroughly.
On the first of your photos, despite the strange long lower mandible, there does seem to be a sort of convex bulge pointing to Thekla's. Also maybe worth noting; as spring progresses, these two get more difficult with wear and bleaching until post breeding moult when they become much more distinctively marked and coloured.
On the first of your photos, despite the strange long lower mandible, there does seem to be a sort of convex bulge pointing to Thekla's. Also maybe worth noting; as spring progresses, these two get more difficult with wear and bleaching until post breeding moult when they become much more distinctively marked and coloured.
Nutcracker
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Thanks! I'll take it/them as Thekla with an abnormal bill, then.
John Cantelo
Well-known member
So is it a Thekla with an overgrown lower mandible or a Crested with an undergrown upper mandible?! Certainly to my eye the lower mandible looks fairly typical of Crested!
Larry Sweetland
Formerly 'Larry Wheatland'
Interesting pics Nutty. If it's a Thekla it's certainly a worry for the bill shape feature rule :smoke:
My impression too...
John In Ireland
Well-known member
Is my original post a Thekla? I'm mixing up my replies here. Lol.
Nutcracker
Stop Brexit!
Simon Wates
Well-known member
The lower mandible does look as Crested....but in that case, what happened to the upper mandible? It doesn't look broken or worn down and seems intact at the tip. The lower mandible has a strange bulge, unlike typical Crested.
The general colouration looks quite good for Crested too but in many photos judging the true colour of these two can be tricky. The combination of warm lighting and the fact it was taken in the spring, when birds are more washed out, would easily account for the sandier than normal colour for Thekla's.
I don't know if its identifiable but I'm plumping for Thekla's here.
To my eye, even ignoring the underlapping upper mandible the bill looks long, slimmish and vaguely droopy à la Crested. Agree that overall pattern looks better for Crested.
Simon Wates
Well-known member
Just for a bit of fun - compare plumage of bird in #3 with these.
Thekla's: https://www.flickr.com/photos/59165737@N05/8469480350/
Crested: https://www.flickr.com/photos/marcolf/6757192101/
And this Thekla's https://www.flickr.com/photos/93372558@N00/152125403/
Thekla's: https://www.flickr.com/photos/59165737@N05/8469480350/
Crested: https://www.flickr.com/photos/marcolf/6757192101/
And this Thekla's https://www.flickr.com/photos/93372558@N00/152125403/
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