Calandra Lark
Melanocorypha calandra
The Calandra Lark is a rare migrant to Britain, typically seen in the southern regions during the spring and autumn, with occasional sightings in other parts of the country. Its presence in Britain is often associated with warm and dry weather conditions.
Field Identification Guide
Use these features to identify Calandra Lark in the field.
The Calandra Lark can be identified by its distinctive white stripes above its eyes, a black stripe through its eyes, and a long, rounded tail. Its overall appearance is also characterized by a stout body and a short, thick bill.
The Calandra Lark is slightly larger than a Skylark, but smaller than a Starling.
The male Calandra Lark has a brownish-grey back, wings, and tail, with a pale underside and a black stripe through its eyes, while its crown and nape are greyish-brown with a distinctive white stripe above its eyes.
The female Calandra Lark is similar to the male, with slight variations in the intensity of the colours, but overall, the female's plumage is almost indistinguishable from that of the male.
The Calandra Lark's song is a melodious, whistled phrase, often described as a series of descending notes, while its call is a sharp, metallic "tek" or "tink" sound.
Calandra Larks are ground-dwelling birds that forage for seeds, insects, and small invertebrates, often running or walking on the ground with a distinctive, upright posture, and taking to the air with a swift, direct flight when disturbed.
The Calandra Lark can be confused with the Skylark, but can be distinguished by its white eyebrow stripe, black stripe through the eye, and longer tail, as well as its more robust build and shorter bill.
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