Birds and Birding's Guide to:

Watching THE SPARROW-LIKE BIRDS

THE SONG BIRDS

THE LARKS

Calandra Larks

In some ways recalling the Horned Larks is a genus of large, heavily built birds known as the Calandra Larks (Melanocorypha), but they lack the hornlets on the side of the head and have rather thicker bills. Of the half a dozen or more species the best-known is the true Calandra Lark (M. calandra) of central and southern Europe and southwestern Asia, which is looked upon as one of the sweetest singers of the many among which it dwells. It is a wild and wary, quite Finch-like, bird, frequenting cultivated and barren lands in both hills and plains, the male, according to Mathew, springing from the ground”and with a graceful, undulating motion describes a series of large circles until he rises to an immense height,”giving forth the while his clear, rich, and melodious song. So pleasing is the song that in southern Europe, notably in Portugal, it is a favorite cage bird, and it is also esteemed as an article of food. In the nesting season they occur only in pairs, but as cold weather comes on they congregate in small parties and may be observed frequently dusting in the sand. Their nest is of the usual type of grasses and plant stems placed in a slight depression on the ground.
Closely allied but larger and darker plumaged is the Long-billed Calandra Lark (M. maxima) of the higher portions of Sikhim and Tibet, where it frequents marshy meadows, collecting in winter in large flocks. Also similar to the first, but lacking the white tips to the secondaries and the white on the tail-feathers, is the Eastern Calandra Lark (M. bimaculata). It occurs in northeastern Africa, Persia, and central Asia, being a winter visitor to many portions of India. Its habits and loud, sweet song are similar to those of its near relative. Quite distinct, however, is the Black Lark (M. yeltoniensis) of the desert steppes of central Asia, the male being jet-black throughout, the upper parts with a few sandy margined feathers, while the female is pale sandy brown above and white below, the throat and breast spotted, and the flanks streaked with brownish. During summer they are spread in pairs over this inhospitable area engaged in rearing their young, but on its completion they gather in large flocks and wander about, frequenting especially the brackish districts, and with severe weather they appear in southern Russia, and are there often observed on highroads and near houses. The call note of this species is low and piping, while its song is said to bear some resemblance to that of the Skylark, though it is not so powerful.

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