Thekla's Lark

Description:

The Thekla Lark is compact and robust, measuring about 14-17 cm in length, roughly the size of blackbird. It has a predominantly brownish-grey color with darker streaks, which provides excellent camouflage against its natural habitat. The underparts are paler. Like other larks, it has a distinctive erectile crest on its head, which can be raised or flattened. It is closely related to and resembles the more widespread Crested Lark. In general, they say that there are notable differences in its appearance and habitat preference. Thekla Lark's crest is typically more compact and less flamboyant than that of the Crested Lark. It has a slightly shorter and thicker bill compared to the Crested Lark, and overall, it may appear bulkier. Moreover, stripes on its chest are also more marked. This said, I always get confused by two species and am not that confident in my ID. I don't really find these differences that batantly evident... So, for now, I'm running as Thekla, until proven differently - and as far as I would say, this could also be a Crested Lark, and would welcome comments if I'm wrong...

Habitat:

Observed in dry, open landscapes with a mixture of low vegetation and bare ground. The Thekla Lark is more likely to be found in natural settings such as heathlands, open rocky hillsides, and sparse scrublands. It tends to avoid flat and uniform agricultural areas, preferring terrains with more varied topography.

Notes:

The Thekla Lark is found predominantly on the Iberian Peninsula and across parts of northwestern Africa. It has localized populations in other Mediterranean areas.