26 |
![]() |
Crested Lark![]() Size: 17-19 cm; wing span 29-38 cm Weight: 40-50 g |
![]() |
Similar |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
|
||||||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Photos |
Race "pallida"
This race is also called the "Iberian Crested Lark".
![]() |
ADULT |
![]() |
MALE |
Dorsal view of a Crested Lark; based on its behaviour,
this is very likely a male
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, November 2018]
![]() |
PAIR |
Lateral/near-dorsal view of a pair of Crested Larks
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia river, Couco, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, February 2021]
Sex unknown |
Frontal view of a Crested Lark ducking low to the ground
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2019]
Frontal view of a Crested Lark looking sideways
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2018]
Near-frontal view of a Crested Lark ducking low to the ground
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2019]
Near-lateral view of a Crested Lark; this is the bird whose
calls
were recorded on 10 April 2020
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2020]
Near-lateral view of a Crested Lark ducking low to the ground
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2019]
Lateral view of a Crested Lark looking at the observer
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2019]
Lateral view of a Crested Lark looking at the observer
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2019]
Lateral view of a Crested Lark
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Minutos Dam, near Montemor o Novo, Evora, Portugal, January 2019]
Lateral view of a Crested Lark
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2018]
Lateral view of a Crested Lark
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia river, Couco, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, February 2021]
Lateral view of a Crested Lark; this is the bird whose
calls
were recorded on 10 April 2020
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2020]
Lateral view of a Crested Lark
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]
Near-dorsal view of a Crested Lark
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Badajoz, Badajoz province, Spain, January 2023]
Near-dorsal view of a Crested Lark
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2019]
Close-up near-dorsal view of a Crested Lark
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2014]
Near-dorsal view of a Crested Lark
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]
Dorsal view of a Crested Lark looking back at the observer
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2020]
Race "meridionalis"
This race is also called the "Greecian Crested Lark".
![]() |
ADULT |
![]() |
PAIR |
Pair of Crested Larks on a beach (photo courtesy of S. Cuturilov)
[Paralia, Greece, September 2017]
Sex unknown |
Lateral view of a Crested Lark (photo courtesy of S. Cuturilov)
[Paralia, Greece, September 2017]
Crested Lark using a heap of straw as its elevated perch
(photo courtesy of S. Cuturilov)
[Paralia, Greece, September 2017]
Race "caucasica"
This race is also called the "Caucasian Crested Lark". Although found just beyond the boundaries of Europe, we show it here for completeness.
![]() |
ADULT |
Sex unknown |
Near-lateral view of a Crested Lark
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[June 2018]
Lateral view of a Crested Lark
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[June 2018]
Race "brachyura"
Photos of Crested Larks, race "brachyura", are available from Arabia.
![]() |
Breeding information |
Breeding season: Mar - Aug | Eggs: 3 - 5 | Incubation period: 11 - 12 days | Fledging age: 15 - 16 days |
The length of the breeding season depends on geographic latitude and can start in February in southern parts of the range. Crested Larks usually raise two broods per season.
Chicks are precocial and will leave the nest around 8 days of age.
Nest building: Female(?) | Incubation: Female | Dependent care: Female & male(?) |
![]() |
Nest |
Type: Basket in scrape | Material: Grass | Height above ground: N/A |
View from above into a Crested Lark nest with 3(?) chicks inside
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2013]
![]() |
Eggs |
Size: 24 x 18 mm | Colour: Light greyish-brown, with small darker grey and brown speckles | Shape: Tapered oval |
![]() |
Food, Diet |
Crested Lark with its prey, a grasshopper
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2014]
This Crested Lark has found something to eat, which looks like some
kind of seed (photo courtesy of S. Cuturilov)
[Paralia, Greece, September 2017]
Crested Lark collecting food for its brood
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]
![]() |
Call(s)/Song |
For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own;
comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.
crstlrk_jp_20201023.m4a |
pallida (Portugal) |
Territorial calls | © JP | |
crstlrk_jp_20200412.m4a |
pallida (Portugal) |
Territorial calls (+ European Greenfinch) |
© JP | |
crstlrk_jp_20200410.m4a |
pallida (Portugal) |
Territorial calls(?) | © JP | |
crstlrk_jp_20200503.m4a |
pallida (Portugal) |
? | © JP |
More Crested Lark sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.