Kalpana Kalpana (Editor)

Calandra lark

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Kingdom
  
Order
  
Passeriformes

Genus
  
Higher classification
  
Melanocorypha

Phylum
  
Chordata

Family
  
Alaudidae

Scientific name
  
Melanocorypha calandra

Rank
  
Species

Calandra lark animalialifeclubdataimagescalandralarkcalan

Similar
  
Greater short‑toed lark, Lesser short‑toed lark, Bird, Crested lark, Black lark

The calandra lark (Melanocorypha calandra) or European calandra-lark breeds in warm temperate countries around the Mediterranean and eastwards through Turkey into northern Iran and southern Russia. It is replaced further east by its relative, the bimaculated lark.

Contents

Calandra lark Calandra lark

Calandra lark melanocorypha calandra


Taxonomy and systematics

Calandra lark Calandra lark

The calandra lark was originally placed in the genus Alauda. The current genus name, Melanocorypha is from Ancient Greek melas, "black", and koruphos a term used by ancient writers for a now unknown bird, but here confused with korudos, "lark". "Calandra"' derives ultimately from kalandros the Ancient Greek name for this bird. The bimaculated lark is also sometimes termed as the calandra lark.

Subspecies

Four subspecies are recognized:

Calandra lark Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra ssp hebraica photo Daniele

  • Western calandra lark (M. c. calandra) - (Linnaeus, 1766): Found in southern Europe and north-western Africa to Turkey (except south-central and south-eastern Turkey), Transcaucasia and north-western Iran
  • Eastern calandra lark (M. c. psammochroa) - Hartert, 1904: Found from northern Iraq and northern Iran to Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan
  • M. c. gaza - Meinertzhagen, R, 1919: Originally described as a subspecies of the bimaculated lark. Found from eastern Syria and south-eastern Turkey to south-western Iran
  • Levant calandra lark (M. c. hebraica) - Meinertzhagen, R, 1920: Found from south-central Turkey and north-western Syria to Israel and western Jordan
  • Description

    Calandra lark Gallery of Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra the Internet

    This is a large, robust lark, 17.5–20 cm long. It is an undistinguished-looking species on the ground, mainly streaked greyish brown above and white below, and with large black patches on the breast sides. It has a white supercilium.

    Calandra lark Calandra Lark Pictures Calandra Lark Images NaturePhoto

    In flight it shows short broad wings, which are dark below, and a short white-edged tail. The wing and tail patterns are distinctions from its more easterly relatives.

    The song is like a slower version of that of the skylark.

    Distribution and habitat

    Calandra lark Calandra Lark Pictures Calandra Lark Images NaturePhoto

    It is mainly resident in the west of its range, but Russian populations of this passerine bird are more migratory, moving further south in winter, as far as the Arabian peninsula and Egypt. It is a very rare vagrant to western Europe.

    This is a bird of open cultivation and steppe. Its nest is on the ground, with 4–5 eggs being laid. Food is seeds supplemented with insects in the breeding season. It is gregarious outside the breeding season.

    Behaviour and ecology

    Parasites of the calandra lark include the chewing louse Ricinus vaderi, described from specimens collected in Azerbaijan.

    In culture

    The song is considered so musical to human ears that the calandra lark was formerly a popular cagebird in its range. It is mentioned in, for instance, the Tuscan proverb "Canta come una calandra", he or she sings like a lark, and the Spanish ballad "Romance del prisionero", where its song is the only way the prisoner knows when day breaks.

    References

    Calandra lark Wikipedia