Short-toed Lark

Calandrella brachydactyla

Unassuming yet melodious, this small ground-dwelling lark brightens open landscapes from Europe to Asia with its cheerful song.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Short-toed Lark is a small, compact bird with a streaked brown back and buff underparts. It has a distinctive pale supercilium and a short, stout bill. The breast is lightly streaked, and the tail has white outer feathers.

Both sexes look similar, with juveniles showing a more scaly pattern on their upperparts. During the breeding season, adults may have a slightly more rufous tinge to their plumage.

Size

Length

14cm to 17cm

Wingspan

27cm to 32cm

Weight

20g to 25g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown Buff

Secondary Colour

White Black

Beak Colour

Grey

Leg Colour

Pink

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Short-toed Lark is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Short-toed Lark is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Short-toed Lark is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Short-toed Lark is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Short-toed Lark is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Short-toed Lark can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Short-toed Lark can be found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Short-toed Lark can be found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Short-toed Lark is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Short-toed Lark is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Short-toed Lark is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Short-toed Lark is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Short-toed Larks inhabit open, dry areas with sparse vegetation, including steppes, semi-deserts, and agricultural lands. They are found across southern Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia, with their range extending from Portugal to western China.

During winter, many populations migrate to sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian subcontinent. In the UK, they are rare vagrants, occasionally spotted during migration periods.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 3,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Mediterranean, Arid

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Short-toed Lark. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons