Birds and Birding's Guide to:

Watching THE SPARROW-LIKE BIRDS

THE SONG BIRDS

THE LARKS

Crested Larks

Resembling the members of the last two genera in habits, and to a large extent in appearance, are the Crested Larks (Ptilocorys), which are distinguished from them at once by the larger and stronger bill, and the presence of a conspicuous crest composed of a few feathers springing from the middle of the crown. The few, perhaps half a dozen, species, range from central and southern Europe to northern Africa, and eastward to central Asia, India, and China, the best-known being the common Crested Lark (P. cristata). A resident or a partially migratory species according to locality, it is a common bird in many parts of continental Europe, but is only a rare straggler to the British Isles. While traveling about, especially in spring, it is often seen in flocks and is rather wild, but in its summer home it is one of the most confiding and fearless of birds. Thus Mr. Dresser states that”when in southern Germany and Hungary, where it is very common, I observed it on almost all the highroads and in the streets of the small towns and villages, pecking amongst the horse droppings almost as tamely as a London Sparrow. They appear very fond of inhabited places and frequent highroads, seldom being found very far from these, and when disturbed by a passing vehicle will either run on one side and let it pass or fly on, again and again, as the traveler approaches them."
The call note of this species, according to the same author, is”a soft, low whistle, and its song, which is generally uttered whilst the bird is on the wing, but sometimes also when it is sitting on the ground, is clear, sweet, and well modulated.”The nesting habits are similar to those of the groups already described, though the nests are oftener near human habitations. The Crested Lark is a favorite cage bird in certain parts of its range, notably in Germany and India, in the latter country being frequently kept in a dark cage or one about which a cloth is wrapped; it has a very sweet song in captivity.
Sometimes included with the last, but usually separated on the basis of their possessing a shorter, stouter bill, are a number of Crested Larks (Spizalauda) which inhabit the Indian peninsula. They are resident birds where found, the best-known being perhaps Syke's Crested Lark (S. deva).

.

previous bird species next bird species