Seasonal and interannual variability in laying date, clutch size, egg volume and hatching asynchrony of four lark species in Mediterranean Spain

To describe the variation in laying date, clutch size, egg volume and hatching asynchrony of four lark species (Skylark Alauda arvensis, Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla, Thekla Lark Galerida theklae and Lesser Short-toed Lark Calandrella rufescens) and at two different time scales: between years (large-scale variation), and within seasons (short-scale variation). Location: Two climatically contrasting Mediterranean areas: Layna, located in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula and with a continental Mediterranean climate, and Cabo de Gata, located in the south-western Iberian Peninsula and with a semi-arid climate. Breeding Skylarks and Short-toed Larks occur in Layna, whereas breeding Thekla Larks and Lesser Short-toed Larks occur in Cabo de Gata.

Francisco SUAREZ, Jesus HERRANZ, Miguel YANES, Ana M. SANCHEZ, Jesus T. GARCIA and Juan MANRIQUE, Ardeola, 52(1), June 2005, 103-117