Thekla's Lark or Crested Lark? Morocco. (1 Viewer)

[laszlo111]

Could anybody help me with ID these photos? First and third from Agadir, the second from Skuora.

 

[Owene]

I’d say all thekla. Largely because of the bills But I’m already losing confidence with them after it being a few months since being in Spain

 

[Muppit17]

I’d say all thekla. Largely because of the bills But I’m already losing confidence with them after it being a few months since being in Spain

Agreed, Thekla.

Convex lower mandible, short bill length, dull caste and sharp cut off of breast streaking.

Stick with it, but remember ssp of Thekla & Crested are different in Southern Morocco to Spain

 

[Harrybongo]

Could anybody help me with ID these photos? First and third from Agadir, the second from Skuora.

Hi. Thekla lark for me. The bill length, and the streaking on the breast is more prominent /distinct than crested's

 

[laszlo111]

Thanks a lot for help! The bill is actually shorterer than I have on Crested Lark photos from different localizations. Thanks.

 

[Steve Lister]

Don't forget that some forms of Crested Larks in Morocco have been split as Maghreb Lark as well, though the October Clements/eBird update lumped them again.
But I agree with everyone else that these three are all Thekla's.

 

[Muppit17]

Don't forget that some forms of Crested Larks in Morocco have been split as Maghreb Lark as well, though the October Clements/eBird update lumped them again.
But I agree with everyone else that these three are all Thekla's.

Agreed, although these are generally the long-billed forms. Although there is a relatively short-billed form of Maghreb Lark where the bill is shorter than one of the longer-billed ssp of Crested. In either case these are much longer billed than Thekla.
I suspect this morphological confusion is behind the lump. Although the stated reason is lack of data. Which poses the question of how/why they split it in the first place!