Thekla's lark - WikiHQ

Thekla's lark (Galerida theklae), also known as the Thekla lark, is a species of lark that breeds on the Iberian Peninsula and in North and East Africa south to Kenya. It is a sedentary (non-migratory) species. This is a common bird of dry open country, often at some altitude. Thekla's lark was named by Alfred Edmund Brehm in 1857 for his recently deceased sister Thekla Brehm (1833–1857). The name is a modern Greek one, (Thekla), which comes from ancient Greek (Theokleia) derived from θεός (theos, "god") and κλέος (, "glory" or "honour"). The population is declining in parts of Spain, but this is a common bird with a very wide range and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern". Formerly, some authorities considered Thekla's lark and the Malabar lark to be conspecific. Alternate names for Thekla's lark include short-crested lark and Thekla crested-lark.

Subspecies

Twelve subspecies are recognized:

G. t. theklae - Brehm, AE, 1857: Also known as Iberian Thekla's lark. Found in Portugal, Spain, Balearic Islands and extreme southern France
North Moroccan Thekla's lark (G. t. erlangeri) - Hartert, 1904: Found in northern Morocco
Central Moroccan Thekla's lark (G. t. ruficolor) - Whitaker, 1898: Found in central and north-eastern Morocco, northern Algeria and northern Tunisia
G. t. theresae - Meinertzhagen, R, 1939: Found in south-western Morocco and Mauritania
Hauts Plateaux Thekla's lark (G. t. superflua) - Hartert, 1897: Found in eastern Morocco, northern Algeria and eastern Tunisia
North African Thekla's lark (G. t. carolinae) - Erlanger, 1897: Found in eastern Morocco through the northern Sahara to north-western Egypt
G. t. harrarensis - Érard & Jarry, 1973: Found in eastern Ethiopia
G. t. huei - Érard & Naurois, 1973: Found in south-central Ethiopia
Abyssinian Thekla's lark (G. t. praetermissa) - (Blanford, 1869): Found in southern Eritrea to central Ethiopia
Somali Thekla's lark (G. t. ellioti) - Hartert, 1897: Originally described as a separate species. Found in northern and central Somalia
G. t. mallablensis - Colston, 1982: Found in southern Somalia
G. t. huriensis - Benson, 1947: Found in southern Ethiopia and northern Kenya

Thekla's lark (Galerida theklae theklae) Loja.jpg|G. t. theklae in hills near Loja, Granada, Spain

Thekla lark (Galerida theklae ruficolor).jpg|G. t. ruficolor Souss-Massa National Park, Morocco

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Description

This is a smallish lark, slightly smaller than the Eurasian skylark. It has a long, spiky, erectile crest. It is also greyer than the Eurasian skylark, and lacks the white wing and tail edge of that species. The body is mainly dark-streaked grey above and whitish below. The sexes are similar.

Distribution and habitat

Thekla's lark is native and resident in France, Spain, Portugal, Algeria, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Morocco, Somalia, Tunisia and Western Sahara.

The song is melodious and varied, with mournful whistles and mimicry included. It is softer and more tuneful than that of the crested lark, and may be sung during flight or from the ground or an exposed perch.