Lesser Short-toed Lark
Encyclopedia
The Lesser Short-toed Lark (Calandrella rufescens) is a small passerine
bird
. It breeds in Spain
, north Africa
, also including Turkey
eastwards across the semi-deserts of central Asia
to Mongolia
and China
.
Many populations, including the Spanish and African breeders, are sedentary, but some Asian birds from the north of the breeding range migrate
south in winter. This species is a very rare wanderer to northern and western Europe.
This is a bird of dry open country, preferring even drier and barer soil
s than Greater Short-toed Lark
. It nests on the ground, laying two to three egg
s. Its food is seed
s and insect
s, the latter especially in the breeding season.
This is a small pale lark
, smaller even than Greater Short-toed Lark. It is dark-streaked greyish-brown above, and white below. It has a pale supercilium, and a short stubby bill.
Care must be taken to distinguish this species from other similar Calandrella larks, such as the Greater Short-toed Lark
, Calandrella brachydactyla. This species lacks the dark neck patches of Greater, and has fine streaking across the breast. The bill and head shape also differ. The sexes are similar.
The song is richer, more varied and imitative than that of its relative.
Passerine
A passerine is a bird of the order Passeriformes, which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds or, less accurately, as songbirds, the passerines form one of the most diverse terrestrial vertebrate orders: with over 5,000 identified species, it has roughly...
bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
. It breeds in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, north Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, also including Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
eastwards across the semi-deserts of central Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
to Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
Many populations, including the Spanish and African breeders, are sedentary, but some Asian birds from the north of the breeding range migrate
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
south in winter. This species is a very rare wanderer to northern and western Europe.
This is a bird of dry open country, preferring even drier and barer soil
Soil
Soil is a natural body consisting of layers of mineral constituents of variable thicknesses, which differ from the parent materials in their morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics...
s than Greater Short-toed Lark
Greater Short-toed Lark
The Greater Short-toed Lark or sometimes just Short-toed Lark is a small passerine bird. It breeds in southern Europe, northwest Africa, and across temperate Asia from Turkey and southern Russia to Mongolia. It is sometimes considered conspecific with Calandrella cinerea...
. It nests on the ground, laying two to three egg
Egg (biology)
An egg is an organic vessel in which an embryo first begins to develop. In most birds, reptiles, insects, molluscs, fish, and monotremes, an egg is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum, which is expelled from the body and permitted to develop outside the body until the developing...
s. Its food is seed
Seed
A seed is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with some stored food. It is the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant...
s and insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s, the latter especially in the breeding season.
This is a small pale lark
Lark
Larks are passerine birds of the family Alaudidae. All species occur in the Old World, and in northern and eastern Australia; only one, the Shore Lark, has spread to North America, where it is called the Horned Lark...
, smaller even than Greater Short-toed Lark. It is dark-streaked greyish-brown above, and white below. It has a pale supercilium, and a short stubby bill.
Care must be taken to distinguish this species from other similar Calandrella larks, such as the Greater Short-toed Lark
Greater Short-toed Lark
The Greater Short-toed Lark or sometimes just Short-toed Lark is a small passerine bird. It breeds in southern Europe, northwest Africa, and across temperate Asia from Turkey and southern Russia to Mongolia. It is sometimes considered conspecific with Calandrella cinerea...
, Calandrella brachydactyla. This species lacks the dark neck patches of Greater, and has fine streaking across the breast. The bill and head shape also differ. The sexes are similar.
The song is richer, more varied and imitative than that of its relative.