A photo of a Greater Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla)
Greater Short-toed Lark

Greater Short-toed Lark

Calandrella brachydactyla

The Greater Short-toed Lark, Calandrella brachydactyla, is a diminutive passerine bird, a member of the lark family. Its plumage is a subtle blend of earthy tones, primarily a dark-streaked greyish-brown above and a clean white below. The species is characterized by a robust, pointed bill tinged pink with a grey culmen, a pale supercilium, and distinctive dark patches on the neck sides. The tail is dark, and some individuals may boast a rufous crown. Both sexes share a similar appearance, and the bird is generally smaller than the familiar skylark.

Identification Tips

When identifying the Greater Short-toed Lark, look for its small size and pale coloration, which sets it apart from its congeners. The bill is strong and pointed, suitable for its diet, and the bird's short toes are a defining feature. The dark neck patches and possible rufous crown are also key identification markers. In flight, observe the compact flocks that move in unison, a behavior quite characteristic of this species.

Habitat

This lark favors dry open country and cultivated lands. It is often found nesting on the ground in these environments, where it can take advantage of the seeds and insects that make up its diet.

Distribution

The Greater Short-toed Lark breeds across a wide range, from southern Europe and north-west Africa to Turkey, southern Russia, and as far as Mongolia. It is a migratory bird, with populations moving south to the fringes of the Sahara and into India during the winter months.

Behaviour

Outside the breeding season, these larks are known to form large, tight flocks during migration, moving in perfect synchrony. At other times, they gather in looser flocks. They exhibit a preference for roosting on open ground at night, each bird nestled in a small depression it has created in the soil.

Song & Calls

The vocalizations of the Greater Short-toed Lark range from a dry twittering to a more complex and melodious song that can include imitations of other birds. Flocks are known to vocalize in unison, particularly when flying to water sources in the morning.

Breeding

The species nests on the ground, laying two to three eggs. During the breeding season, insects become an important part of their diet, supplementing their usual seed intake.

Similar Species

Care should be taken to distinguish the Greater Short-toed Lark from other similar species within the Calandrella genus, such as the Mediterranean Short-toed Lark. The Greater Short-toed Lark is paler and has a longer bill compared to the Mongolian Short-toed Lark.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Greater Short-toed Lark consists primarily of seeds and insects. The latter is especially important during the breeding season to provide the necessary protein for raising young.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List categorizes the Greater Short-toed Lark as Least Concern, indicating that, currently, there are no immediate threats to its population levels that would warrant a higher degree of conservation action.

Greater Short-toed Lark Sounds

Greater Short-toed Lark Call

00:05

Greater Short-toed Lark Song

00:16
Recorded by: © 
App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.
Download Birda on the Apple App StoreDownload Birda on the Google Play Store

Distribution of the Greater Short-toed Lark

Use two fingers to move the map
Use ctrl + scroll to zoom the map
Breeding Season
Non-breeding Season
Passage
Resident

Greater Short-toed Larks on Birda

Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.
What Our Birders Say
Unbridled Discoveries
Great app for bird lovers
I love this app! It’s a wonderful way to track birding sessions, and also connect you with fellow birders. I also really like the unidentified bird section, it’s a great community tool to help figure out what a never-before-seen bird is!
Viperray5
Loving it
I really enjoy being able to interact with other birders on this platform! This seems like a great way to meet other birders and find some new spots.
Chudbond
Love Birda
I love this app. It really encourages you to log your sightings and the community is friendly and helpful.
Mike T
Sense of Community
A great app, which is continually being improved. What really comes through is the passion of those behind the app. The sense of community is brilliant, so much help and support provided to new and/or in experienced birders.
Amylia S
Best app for any birding person!
I love this app!! I am so addicted to it when I saw it had 3 star review I was so sad! The app is awesome!! The best app for any birding person! ❤️
Bryan C
Clean and easy to use
Really enjoying this app, it's clean and easy to use. I love the ease of being able to add those one-off birds without starting a whole checklist. I also like the social aspect, like the parts of my Facebook I like, without the ads and junk, just birds. Can't wait to see it become more populated.
Tralisalandhoop
Fantastic app - Love it!
Love this app and have used it almost daily. Lots of species information and easy to use. Love seeing birds spotted by other users in the UK and worldwide.
Louise L
Easy to use and accurate
Love this app. It is easy to use and accurate, Their backup communication is really good. I noted a missing species. All through the process, I was kept informed about the progress in correcting the information. I now have the corrected, updated version. 😁 Thanks!
Marlster24
Very Wholesome App
Joined this app with a new interest in watching birds to help me find out what I was spotting. The community is very active in helping identify birds which is great and everyone is very kind so it’s just a nice wholesome community. I would definitely recommend this for any bird spotter 😄
Pdydhdrexgi
Fantastic App
This is a really lovely app, for everyone interested in birds - from newbies to old hands. There is a very friendly feel to the community and you will genuinely learn a lot as you record your sightings and photos. There are lots of badges and competitions to keep you engaged, and a host of really useful features.
As featured in
BBC RadioABC NewsFox NewsForbesTimeoutAndroid CentralBirdWatching DailyPetapixel
Birda
Install now for free
Get app
Get the Birda app on your phone to easily identify birds on the go