(Melanocorypha calandra) Alternate name(s): "European Calandra-lark" German name(s): "Kalanderlerche" Size: 17.5-20 cm Weight: 54-73 g (male); 44-66 g (female)
Calandra Larks are a large larks. Their
plumage is highly
cryptic.
With the exception of some faint streaking on the breast and
black patches on the sides of the breast, their underparts
are off-white to creamy.
The upperparts are streaked and scalloped light- and dark-brown,
with wide creamy margins on the wing feathers.
The sides of the head, including prominent, broad supercilia
and also the lores, are mostly off-white to creamy, except
for the pale-brown ear coverts.
Worn plumage
in spring looks more greyish than fresh
plumage in
autumn.
The eyes have dark irises.
The strong, slightly down-curved bill has a yellowish to
horn-coloured lower mandible and a grey upper mandible.
Legs and feet are greyish-pink.
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
.
The global distribution of the Calandra Lark is available
HERE
.
The Calandra Lark is a partly sedentary, partly migratory
species with 4 extant races.
Their overall distribution ranges from Iberia and north-western
Africa in the West, via the Mediterranean, Asia Minor, around
the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, into the Levant and into
southern central Asia, near the border of Kazakhstan and
Kyrgyzstan with China (for details see a field guide).
Nominate race
"calandra", the "Western Calandra Lark", is found from southern
Europe and north-western Africa to Asia Minor.
Race "psammochroa", the "Eastern Calandra Lark", is present in a
region spanning from northern Iraq and northern Iran to Turkmenistan
and Kazakhstan.
Race "gaza" resides in the area from eastern Syria and south-eastern
Turkey to south-western Iran.
Race "hebraica", the "Levant Calandra Lark", populates
southern central Turkey and north-western Syria to Israel and western
Jordan.
In Europe only the nominate race of Calandra Larks,
"calandra",
(the "European Calandra Lark") is found. Their range
within Europe extends from much of Iberia via the Cote d'Azure
to Sardinia , parts of southern Italy and the eastern Adriatic
coastal fringe into parts of Greece. Along the eastern coastal
fringe of the Black Sea they are found only during winter, but
northward of the Black Sea and towards the Caspian Sea their
sedentary range continues towards the Caucasus and the northern
coastline of the Caspian Sea.
Apart from south-western Russia, where the species is partly
migratory, extending its breeding range northward, they are
sedentary throughout southern Europe.
There are some reports of stragglers reaching Britain and southern
Scandinavia.
Calandra Larks have a preference for breeding on natural steppe,
these days also in cultivated fields.
While being found in pairs during the breeding season, they can
form relatively large flocks during winter.
Sightings
Click here for sighting information
Race "calandra"
J. Pires reports finding Greater
Short-toed Larks, nominate race
"calandra", in the Tejo Estuary Nature Park, Portugal,
in April 2017, in July 2019 and again in June 2021.
All sighting and photographic information presented on this
page has kindly been contributed by J. Pires.
Photos
Race "calandra"
This race is also called the "European Calandra Lark".
ADULT
Sex unknown
Near-lateral view of a Calandra Lark, with a second visible behind it;
note the black patch on the side of the chest
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, June 2021]
Near-dorsal view of a Calandra Lark; note the strong bill
and the prominent supercilium
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, June 2021]
Near-dorsal view of a Calandra Lark
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, July 2019]
More Calandra Lark sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.