Thekla lark
| Thekla lark | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Alaudidae |
| Genus: | Galerida |
| Species: | G. theklae |
| Binomial name | |
| Galerida theklae (Brehm, AE, 1857) | |
The Thekla lark (Galerida theklae) breeds on the Iberian Peninsula, in northern Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Somalia. It is a sedentary (non-migratory) species. This is a common bird of dry open country, often at some altitude. The Thekla lark was named by Alfred Edmund Brehm in 1857 for his recently deceased sister Thekla Brehm (1833–1857). The name is a modern Greek one, Θέκλα (Thekla), which comes from ancient Greek Θεόκλεια (Theokleia) derived from θεός (theos, "god") and κλέος (kleos, "glory" or "honour").[2] The population is declining in Spain, but this is a common bird with a very wide range and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern".[1]
Description
This is a smallish lark, slightly smaller than the skylark. It has a long, spiky, erectile crest. It is greyer than the skylark, and lacks the white wing and tail edge of that species. It is very similar to the widespread crested lark, Galerida cristata. It is smaller and somewhat greyer than that species, and has a shorter bill. In flight it shows grey underwings, whereas the crested has reddish underwings. The body is mainly dark-streaked grey above and whitish below. The sexes are similar.[3]
Distribution and habitat
The Thekla lark is native and resident in France, Spain and Portugal, and in Algeria, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Morocco, Somalia, Tunisia and Western Sahara.[1] Its typical habitat is rugged areas with scrub, bare patches of ground and semi-arid grassland.[4]
Behaviour and ecology
It nests on the ground, laying two to six eggs. Its food is weed, seeds and insects, the latter especially in the breeding season.[4]
The song is melodious and varied, with mournful whistles and mimicry included. It is softer and more tuneful than that of the crested lark, and may be sung during flight or from the ground or an exposed perch.[3]
References
- 1 2 3 BirdLife International (2012). "Galerida theklae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ↑ Thekla. Behind the Name, retrieved 16-01-2013. Brehm later had five children, four of who died of diphtheria in 1883, including a daughter also named Thekla.
- 1 2 Mark Beaman; Steve Madge (1998). The Handbook of Bird Identification: For Europe and the Western Palearctic. Christopher Helm. p. 549. ISBN 978-0-7136-3960-5.
- 1 2 "Thekla Lark (Galerida theklae)". Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
External links
- Videos, photos and sounds – Internet Bird Collection
- Ageing and sexing (PDF; 2.3 MB) by Javier Blasco-Zumeta & Gerd-Michael Heinze
- Distinguishing characters between Thekla lark and crested lark (PDF; 1.7 MB)