Short-toed Lark

The Short Toed Lark is a summer migrant limited to specific locations and sightings will probably require special visits. The region known as Es Blanquer is probably the best place to see them, an area they also share with Stone Curlews and Thekla's Larks. The arable land near the coast to the north of Porto Colom is also a good location where Quail are often sighted in the spring.

Technical description

Short-Toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla) sometimes known as the greater short-toed lark is a small passerine bird. It breeds in southern Europe, north-west Africa, and across temperate Asia from Turkey and southern Russia to Mongolia. This is a small pale lark, smaller than the skylark. It is dark-streaked greyish-brown above and white below. It has a strong pointed bill that is pinkish with a grey culmen. It has a pale supercilium, dark patches on each side of its neck and a dark tail.

The Short-toed Lark's song is a melodious, trilling warble, often delivered in flight. It typically begins with a series of 'tiri-tiri' notes, followed by a more varied sequence.

The call is a soft, rolling 'prrrrt' or a short 'tit' used for communication within flocks.

• Look for Short-toed Larks in open, dry habitats with sparse vegetation
• Listen for their distinctive trilling song, often given in flight
• Observe their quick, scurrying movements on the ground
• Use binoculars to spot the pale supercilium and short bill, distinguishing them from other lark species

Short-toed Larks primarily feed on seeds from grasses and other plants. During the breeding season, they supplement their diet with insects and other small invertebrates, which are crucial for feeding their young.

They forage by walking and pecking on the ground, occasionally catching insects in short flights.

Breeding occurs from April to July, with males establishing territories through song flights. Pairs form monogamous bonds for the breeding season.

The nest is a simple scrape on the ground, lined with grass and plant material. It is often placed next to a small plant or rock for protection. The female typically lays 3-5 eggs, which are pale and speckled.

Incubation lasts about 11-13 days, primarily done by the female. Both parents feed the chicks, which fledge after 8-10 days but remain dependent on their parents for several more weeks.

Short-toed Larks are ground-dwelling birds, often seen running rather than hopping. They forage in small flocks outside the breeding season, pecking at seeds on the ground.

During courtship, males perform short, fluttering song flights, rising a few meters before descending.

While listed as Least Concern globally, Short-toed Larks face localised threats from habitat loss due to agricultural intensification and urbanisation. 

Conservation efforts focus on maintaining suitable breeding habitats and protecting stopover sites along migration routes.