Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)

[order] PASSERIFORMES | [family] Alaudidae | [latin] Galerida cristata | [UK] Crested Lark | [FR] Cochevis huppe | [DE] Haubenlerche | [ES] Cogujada Comun | [NL] Kuifleeuwerik

Subspecies

Physical charateristics

17 cm in size with a wingspan of 30-38 cm. Medium sized lark, with long spiky crest on rear crown, portly character on ground stemming most from usually deep belly and rather short tail. Distinctly bulkier about head and body, with rather long, strong bill and rather short, broad tail. Plumage pattern and colors, stronger facial marks, heavy moustaches, more open chest streaks on paler ground, more uniform upperparts and buff outer tail feathers.

Listen to the sound of Crested Lark

[audio:http://www.aviflevoland.nl/sounddb/C/Crested Lark.mp3]

Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto

Range

Eurasia, Africa : widespread

Habitat

Variety of habitats, mainly open areas with sparse vegetation, also cultivated land and other man-made semideserts such as railways, airfields, and wastelands. Where it co-occurs with the Thekla lark, the crested lark occupies the plains, the Thekla inhabits rocky and bushy slopes.

Reproduction

Nest on ground out in the open, or in shelter of low shrub or tussock, also under low bank. The nest is a shallow depression with untidy lining of grass or other vegetation. A new nest is built for each clutch by female only, taking 2-4 days. The 3-5 eggs are smooth and glossy, off-white to grey white,finely spotted and speckled buff-brown and grey. Incubation lasts about 11-13 days and is performed by female only, though male may stand covering the eggs while the female is away from nest.

Feeding habits

Diet is mainly based on plant material and fewer invertebrates in winter. Most food taken from on or below ground surface. Digs with blows of bill to left and right. Will take insects by aerial-pursuit and stripping wings off before eating body.

Conservation

This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size is extremely large, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Galerida cristata is a widespread resident across much of Europe (except the north),
which accounts for less than half of its global range. Its European breeding population
is very large (>3,600,000 pairs), but underwent a moderate decline between 1970-
1990. Although the species was stable overall during 1990-2000-with stable or
increasing trends in south-eastern Europe compensating for declines farther north-
its population has clearly not yet recovered to the level that preceded its decline.

Migration

Largely migratory in north of FSU breeding range. Mainly resident elsewhere; some dispersal occurs, but scale uncertain. Apparently sedentary in North Africa and Middle East, where birds show much subspeciation and adaptation of plumage colour to that of local soils.

Distribution map