Thekla's Lark

Galerida theklae - Cochevis de Thékla

Cochevis de Thékla
Systematics
  • Order 
    :

    Passeriformes

  • Family
    :

    Alaudidés

  • Genus
    :

    Galerida

  • Species
    :

    theklae

Descriptor

Brehm, AE, 1857

Biometrics
  • Size
    : 17 cm
  • Wingspan
    : 28 à 32 cm.
  • Weight
    : 34 à 37 g
Geographic range

Distribution

Identification

Cochevis de Thékla
adult
Cochevis de Thékla
adult plum. breeding

Thekla's Lark is similar in size to the Crested Lark. Its silhouette is much more compact. It can be distinguished from this species by its shorter beak which has a straight or even slightly convex lower mandible. Both sexes are identical. Its crest is quite full and arranged in a more regular fan shape, which gives it a less pointed shape than the Crested Lark. The facial pattern is somewhat less clear, more diffused. Its upperparts are brownish and its underparts are off-white with well-marked dark streaks on the chest. The clarity and distribution of the chest streaks, the rufous tips of the rectrices and the gray tonality of the wing coverts, allow the experienced observer to easily distinguish it from the Crested Lark. Other criteria can only be ascertained when the bird is in hand, such as the external rectrices edged in cream-rufous contrasting with the neighboring feathers which are dark-brownish or the first primary remex which is longer than the primary covers. Its primary projection is shorter than that of the Crested Lark. Variations in some subspecies may complicate its identification. Juveniles can easily be recognized by their upperparts which are dotted with white-cream. Their crest is less developed.

Subspecific information 12 subspecies

  • Galerida theklae theklae (Portugal, Spain, Balearic Is. and extreme s France)
  • Galerida theklae erlangeri (n Morocco)
  • Galerida theklae ruficolor (c and ne Morocco, n Algeria and n Tunisia)
  • Galerida theklae theresae (sw Morocco and Mauritania)
  • Galerida theklae superflua (e Morocco, n Algeria and e Tunisia)
  • Galerida theklae carolinae (e Morocco through the n Sahara to nw Egypt)
  • Galerida theklae harrarensis (e Ethiopia)
  • Galerida theklae huei (sc Ethiopia)
  • Galerida theklae praetermissa (s Eritrea to c Ethiopia)
  • Galerida theklae ellioti (n and c Somalia)
  • Galerida theklae mallablensis (s Somalia)
  • Galerida theklae huriensis (s Ethiopia and n Kenya)

Foreign names

  • Cochevis de Thékla,
  • Cogujada montesina,
  • cotovia-escura,
  • Theklalerche,
  • kövi pacsirta,
  • Thekla's Leeuwerik,
  • Cappellaccia di Thekla,
  • lagerlärka,
  • Krattopplerke,
  • pipíška vavrínová,
  • chocholouš vavřínový,
  • Theklalærke,
  • kivikkotöyhtökiuru,
  • cogullada fosca,
  • Kamblævirki,
  • dzierlatka iberyjska,
  • Teklas cīrulis,
  • španski škrjanec,
  • Короткопалый хохлатый жаворонок,
  • コバシカンムリヒバリ,
  • 短嘴凤头百灵,
  • 短嘴鳳頭百靈,

Voice song and cries

Cochevis de Thékla
juvenile

Its song, often emitted while in flight, is quite similar to that of the Crested Lark, but softer and more melodious. It is the trisyllabic cry that is distinctive, the tju tit tju. This is monotone in the Crested Lark while it is modulated in Thekla's Lark.

Habitat

Cochevis de Thékla
adult

He likes mostly arid and desert scrubland. He thrives in sparse vegetation, but he can also be found in light woodlands of holm oaks or olive trees, as well as in thickets. Thekla's Lark can also be spotted in sunny spots on higher ground.

Behaviour character trait

Cochevis de Thékla
adult plum. breeding

This species is sedentary and territorial. During the breeding season, Thekla's Lark usually forms loose colonies. In winter it is found in small groups of about ten individuals which can mix with other species such as the Woodlark.

Dietfeeding habits

Cochevis de Thékla
adult

Mixed diet, granivore and insectivore. Insects found under stones and seeds on the ground.

Reproduction nesting

Cochevis de Thékla
adult

Individuals can reproduce from the age of one. The two parents build the nest but the female takes on the greater part of the task as the male is more focused on territory surveillance.

Cochevis de Thékla
adult plum. breeding
The nest is located in an open meadow, simply concealed by a Brachypode rameux or Genêt scorpion plant. It is created with dry blades of grass and sometimes small stones are placed around it to help hold it up. The female lays 3 to 5 eggs in April. The incubation period is approximately 12 days and the young can fly at 15 days. A second laying in June is possible.

Geographic range

Distribution
Cochevis de Thékla
adult

Thekla's Lark of the nominal subspecies is present in the extreme southwest of Europe (Spain [including the Balearic Islands] Portugal and France [Aude and Eastern Pyrenees]) where it reaches the northern limit of its distribution area). 11 other subspecies inhabit northern Africa, from Morocco to northeastern Egypt, and 4 countries of the Horn of Africa, of which Ethiopia is a key part.

Threats - protection

Cochevis de Thékla
adult
IUCN conservation status
Extinct
Threatened
Least
concern
Extinc
in the Wild
Near
threatened
Not
evaluated
EX EW CR EN VU NT LC NE

Thekla's Lark is not threatened as a species as its range is wide and it is locally common. Nevertheless, locally human activities and habitat destruction can put it at risk.

Other sources of interest

QRcode Cochevis de ThéklaSpecification sheet created on 03/08/2023 by
partially rewritten on 00/00/0000 by
Translation by AI Oiseaux.net
published: - Updated: 19-12-2020
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