White-winged Lark
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| Melanocorypha leucoptera (Pallas, 1811) |
The White-winged Lark, Melanocorypha leucoptera, breeds from the Caucasus east across temperate southern Asia to Kazakhstan. It is partially migratory, with birds tending to move south within the breeding range in winter. Southernmost birds are mainly resident. It is a very rare vagrant to western Europe.
This is a bird of dry open steppe and sometimes cultivation. It has been adversely affected by the ploughing of natural steppe. Its nest is on the ground, with 3-8 eggs being laid. Food is seeds and insects, the latter especially in the breeding season. It is gregarious in winter.
This is a large, robust lark 17-19 cm in length. In flight it is unmistakable due to the striking wing pattern, with black outer flight feathers, white inner flight feathers, and the rest of the wing chestnut. The body is mainly dark-streaked grey above and whitish below. The adult male has a chestnut crown, but the sexes are otherwise similar.
The song is like a more melodious version of that of the Skylark.
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2006). Melanocorypha leucoptera. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006.
