Thekla? Spain (1 Viewer)

So from my road trip I spent a morning with the Larks.

This one I have as Thekla. The bill looks short, convex lower mandible, the crest rises from the middle and not the front, white eyering... At the time I felt the call was different being less whispt than the numerous Crested.

Am I right?

It’s difficult to really see the bill shape and length at this angle (are these the only images? Any in flight?) these can vary but at this angle without knowing how much it is foreshortened, it seems short, convex on the lower manible and stubbier enough for Thekla. Plumage also varies with some overlap with Crested but the brighter and stronger super, prominent eyering and heavy breast streaking favour Thekla as does the apparently strong rufous tones in the tail. The thickness and shape of the crest in both species also varies depending on mood/weather etc and again at this angle, it’s tricky. As you know, they are very difficult to separate unless on good views - it does look like a Thekla but I can’t ID it with certainty. I struggle to separate the calls personally but Thekla has a lower pitch though.

Specific location/habitat might also be a clue. (Although in this case if Crested Larks were numerous, you would be looking at overlap, so perhaps not helpful in this instance)

In short,(!!) I’m inclined to agree with Thekla Lark