Larks in Xinjiang, China (3 Viewers)

[viator]

Hi,

Appreciate help with these shots. All taken at Bosten Lake, Xinjiang on 3 July.

Thanks

 

[viator]

One additional shot

 

[PrairieFalcon]

Correct me if im wrong since i am not familiar with these birds, but i think they are all Sky Larks.

 

[viator]

Hi PrairieFalcon,

Thanks for the feedback. In the area these were taken there would be at least 6 species of Lark and 2 Skylarks which would be within range!

Cheers
Mike

 

[Robin Edwards]

I am not skilled in asian Larks but to me they look like Oriental Skylark - Alauda gulgula.

 

[Jane Turner]

Fairly sure that at least the third pic is a Calandrella, and with a primary projection like that Lesser-short toed is a candidate. Not sure what other options are possible and will have a crack at the others later.

 

[Jane Turner]

The first one looks like a bigger Calandrella - Humes or Short-toed, or Asian Short-toed - don't fancy pinning it down beyond that on this angle.

 

[Jane Turner]

And really guessing now - the juv in 2 and the back of 4 appear be oriental skylark/skylark.

The juv in the second post look like it might be another Lesser-ST....

 

[lostinjapan]

I'd go for the following three species

1) Oriental Skylark in pics 2 and 3 (possibly 1 as well)
2) Hume's Short-toed Lark in 4 and 5
3) Lesser-short toed Lark in 6

Sean

 

[Sumit]

Don't know if the species is in range but on jizz, #1 would be a strong contender for Sand Lark if I saw it in India.
Cheers!
sumit

 

[viator]

Jane and lostinjapan I was thinking along those lines except lostinjapan I think 2 and 3 is more likely a Eurasian Skylark than an Oriental - at least according to MacKinnon and Phillipps Guide for China the Oriental would stay well Sth of the Taklamakan Basin whereas this is to the Nth, a distance of a few hundred miles of sanddunes

 

[lostinjapan]

Jane and lostinjapan I was thinking along those lines except lostinjapan I think 2 and 3 is more likely a Eurasian Skylark than an Oriental - at least according to MacKinnon and Phillipps Guide for China the Oriental would stay well Sth of the Taklamakan Basin whereas this is to the Nth, a distance of a few hundred miles of sanddunes

The birds in pics 2 and 3 seem very small-billed and appear to have a lot of rufous in the wing, more than most mainland races of Eurasian Skylark. Those features are more in keeping with Oriental, though the tail admittedly seems quite long for Oriental. Moreover, the primaries extend well beyond the tertials, which is better for Eurasian Skylark.

Both those features do occur in the Japanese race of Eurasian Skylark however. I have no experience of Eurasian Skylark races in NW China. We do get birds wintering in Japan some years, but they are most likely from Korea or NE China, and they are a lot plaer than the birds in your pics.

I looked at the pics again and decided that I was wrong about the birds in pics 4, 5 and 6.

I think 4 and 5 are actually Asian Short-toed Lark - Calandrella cheleensis, while 6 is more likely either Hume's or Short-toed Lark - Calandrella acutirostris or brachydactyla.

Any more opinions out there?

Sean

Hiroshima

 

[Jane Turner]

bump!

 

[MKinHK]

for me 2,3,& 4 all have too much primary projection for anything except Eurasian Skylark. I think 1 is also Eurasian on size of the crest and length of the bill.

On a closer look I think 5 is also Eurasian, also based on primary projection.

A word of warning about Mackinnon - his maps are dodgier than than the best player in the world championship of dodge ball, played in Dodge city!

Cheers
Mike

 

[lostinjapan]

Is the bird in pic 5 and on the left in pic 4 really Eurasian?

for me 2,3,& 4 all have too much primary projection for anything except Eurasian Skylark. I think 1 is also Eurasian on size of the crest and length of the bill.

On a closer look I think 5 is also Eurasian, also based on primary projection.

A word of warning about Mackinnon - his maps are dodgier than than the best player in the world championship of dodge ball, played in Dodge city!

Cheers
Mike

Hey Mike

I can understand your reasoning on pics 1, 2, 3. However, there are two larks in pic 4 and althought the one on the right and further back is probably Eurasian, I don't think the bird on the left and in the foreground is, nor the bird in pic 5..surely? Are you confusing your numbers perhaps? Pics 4 and 6 show birds that have the potentital to be Eurasian Skylark.

Sean:eek!: