Greater Short-toed Lark

Appearance

Several subspecies have been named but there is considerable geneflow and the species itself forms part of a larger complex. This is a small pale lark, smaller than the skylark. It is dark-streaked greyish-brown above, and white below, and has a strong pointed bill that is pinkish with a grey culmen. It has a pale supercilium, dark patches on each side of its neck and a dark tail. Some birds in the west of the range have a rufous crown. The sexes are similar. The greater short-toed lark is paler than the Mongolian short-toed lark which also has a shorter bill. In winter they fly in large and compact flocks that swing in synchrony. Care must be taken to distinguish this species from other similar "Calandrella" larks, such as the lesser short-toed lark.

The nominate form breeds in Europe and winters in Africa. Subspecies "hungarica" breeds in the eastern parts of Europe while "rubiginosa" breeds in north-western Africa. Subspecies "hermonensis" breeds in Turkey, Syria and Egypt. Subspecies "artemisiana" breeds in Asia Minor and winters in southern west Asia. Subspecies "longipennis" breeds in Ukraine, Mongolia and Manchuria and winters in South Asia mainly in the drier zone of north-western India.

The song varies between a dry twittering and a more varied and imitative melody. Flocks will often fly together to water in the mornings at favourite spots. In the evenings they roost in open ground, with each bird squatting in a small depression made in the soil.

Naming

Eight subspecies are recognized:
⤷  European greater short-toed lark or Palestine short-toed lark - : Found in southern Europe, on Mediterranean islands and in north-western Africa.
⤷  Hungarian greater short-toed lark - Horváth, 1956: Found in Hungary and northern Serbia
⤷  North African greater short-toed lark - Fromholz, 1913: Found in northern Africa
⤷  Levant greater short-toed lark - Tristram, 1865: Originally described as a separate species. Found from southern Turkey and Syria to north-eastern Egypt
⤷  BIrelandcik greater short-toed lark - Kumerloeve, 1969: Found in southern Turkey and north-western Syria
⤷  Transcaucasian greater short-toed lark - Banjkovski, 1913: Found from central Turkey and Transcaucasia to north-western Iran
⤷  Steppe greater short-toed lark - : Originally described as a separate species in the genus "Alauda". Also known as Eastern short-toed lark or Yarkand short-toed lark. Found from Ukraine and southern Russia to south-central Siberia and southern Mongolia
⤷  "C. b. orientalis" - Sushkin, 1925: Found in central Siberia, northern Mongolia and northern China

Distribution

All but some southernmost populations are migratory, wintering south to the southern edge of the Sahara and India. This species is a fairly common wanderer to northern and western Europe in spring and autumn. Populations breeding in the Iberian Peninsula winter south of the Sahara in Africa. Here they prefer crop land and dry pastures with short shrubs while the syntopic lesser short-toed larks prefer drier areas.

Habitat

In colonial India, they were hunted for food as ortolans.

They visit parts of South Asia in large flocks during winter and are sometimes attracted to short grass areas along aerodromes and become a bird strike risk to aircraft.