14-3-2026 CAPE POINT BANJUL, THE GAMBIA - CRESTED LARK (Galerida cristata)

The crested lark (Galerida cristata) is a small, non-migratory songbird (17–19 cm) known for its distinctive spiky, long crest and cheerful, musical warbling song. They thrive in dry, open habitats, including arid plains, agricultural fields, and disturbed urban areas, feeding primarily on seeds and insects. 

Habitat: They prefer dry, open, sparse vegetation like steppe, farmland, and semi-deserts, and are often seen near coastal areas and roadsides.

Appearance: A medium-sized lark with brownish streaking, a short tail, and a prominent crest that rises during display.

Eggs & Breeding: Monogamous breeders that nest on the ground. They lay clutches of 3 to 5 eggs that are gray-white to brownish and finely speckled. They often raise two broods per year.

Diet: Primarily granivorous (seeds and grains) but also consume invertebrates like beetles, often digging for food in the ground.

Behavior: They are known to be non-migratory (sedentary) and often show high adaptability to human-modified landscapes, including airports and urban outskirts.

27-3-2023 VILLA DEL RIO, ANDALUCIA - CRESTED LARK (Galerida cristata)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/578607-Galerida-cristata

14-10-2022 EL SALER, VALENCIA - CRESTED LARK (Galerida cristata)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/578607-Galerida-cristata

5-6-2022 POBLA DEL DUC, VALENCIA - CRESTED LARK (Galerida cristata)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/578607-Galerida-cristata

5-6-2022 LLUTXENT, VALENCIA - CRESTED LARK (Galerida cristata)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/578607-Galerida-cristata

2-3-2022 LAGUNA DE NAVASECA, LA MANCHA - CRESTED LARK (Galerida cristata)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/578607-Galerida-cristata

12-1-2022 CATARROJA, VALENCIA - CRESTED LARK (Galerida cristata)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/578607-Galerida-cristata

16-10-2021 AXIOS NAT PARK THESSALONIKI, GREECE - CRESTED LARK (Galerida cristata)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/578607-Galerida-cristata

14-8-2021 ALDEA DEL OBISPO, SALAMANCA - CRESTED LARK (Galerida cristata)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/578607-Galerida-cristata

6-7-2021 ALPERA. LA MANCHA - CRESTED LARK (Galerida cristata)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/578607-Galerida-cristata

 

31-5-2021 PERALVILLO, LA MANCHA - CRESTED LARK (Galerida cristata)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/578607-Galerida-cristata

 

30-5-2021 TABLAS DE DAIMIEL, LA MANCHA - CRESTED LARK (Galerida cristata)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/578607-Galerida-cristata

 

29-5-2021 MORAL DE CALATRAVA, LA MANCHA - CRESTED LARK (Galerida cristata)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/578607-Galerida-cristata

25-5-2021 TABLAS DE DAMIEL, LA MANCHA - CRESTED LARK (Galerida cristata)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/578607-Galerida-cristata

 

26-5-2021 TALARUBIAS, EXTREMADURA - CRESTED LARK (Galerida cristata)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/578607-Galerida-cristata

 

11-11-2019 ALPERA, CASTILLE LA MANCHA - CRESTED LARK (Galerida cristata)

The Crested Lark (Galerida cristata) is a small, robust passerine bird, approximately 17 cm in height with a wingspan ranging from 29 to 38 cm. It weighs between 37 and 55 grams. Both sexes are similar in appearance, with a brown plumage that is paler on the underparts and a distinctive crest on the head, which is raised prominently during displays. The tail is short with light brown outer feathers, and the underwings exhibit a reddish hue in flight.

Adult Crested Larks are characterized by their brown, streaky plumage with a paler underside. The young birds can be identified by the additional spots on their backs. The species' most notable feature is its crest, which can be seen at all times but is particularly prominent during territorial or courtship displays. In flight, the reddish underwings are a key identification marker.

The Crested Lark is found in dry, open landscapes such as fields, roadsides, and wastelands. It has adapted well to human-altered environments and can often be seen in areas with sparse vegetation, such as sandy patches near railways, docks, and airfields.

This lark has a wide range across temperate Eurasia, from Portugal to northeastern China and eastern India, and in Africa down to Niger. It is a resident bird, meaning it does not migrate seasonally. However, it is a rare vagrant to Great Britain.

24-9-2019 GALISTEO, CACERAS - CRESTED LARK (Galerida cristata)

The Crested Lark (Galerida cristata) is a small, robust passerine bird, approximately 17 cm in height with a wingspan ranging from 29 to 38 cm. It weighs between 37 and 55 grams. Both sexes are similar in appearance, with a brown plumage that is paler on the underparts and a distinctive crest on the head, which is raised prominently during displays. The tail is short with light brown outer feathers, and the underwings exhibit a reddish hue in flight.

Adult Crested Larks are characterized by their brown, streaky plumage with a paler underside. The young birds can be identified by the additional spots on their backs. The species' most notable feature is its crest, which can be seen at all times but is particularly prominent during territorial or courtship displays. In flight, the reddish underwings are a key identification marker.

The Crested Lark is found in dry, open landscapes such as fields, roadsides, and wastelands. It has adapted well to human-altered environments and can often be seen in areas with sparse vegetation, such as sandy patches near railways, docks, and airfields.

This lark has a wide range across temperate Eurasia, from Portugal to northeastern China and eastern India, and in Africa down to Niger. It is a resident bird, meaning it does not migrate seasonally. However, it is a rare vagrant to Great Britain.

The Crested Lark is known for its undulating flight pattern and its melodious, warbling song, which can be heard from high in the sky or at ground level. It is a territorial bird that sings to establish its presence, often from a height of 30 to 60 meters.

The song of the Crested Lark is a liquid series of notes, often transcribed as "whee-whee-wheeoo" or "twee-tee-too." It is a characteristic sound of open country in its range.

The Crested Lark nests on the ground in shallow depressions, using dead grasses and roots to construct its nest. It typically lays three to five brown, finely speckled eggs, which hatch after about 11 to 12 days. The young are precocial and leave the nest early, becoming fully fledged at around 15 to 16 days old. The species often raises two broods per year.

Primarily vegetarian, the Crested Lark feeds on grains and seeds such as oats, wheat, and barley. It also consumes insects, particularly beetles. Juveniles are fed by both parents and start foraging on their own shortly before they are capable of flight.

The Crested Lark is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List, indicating it is not currently at risk of extinction. The global population is estimated to be between 22 million and 91.2 million mature individuals, with a noted decline in Europe since 1982.

7-7-2018 TABLAS DE DAIMIEL, LA MANCHA - CRESTED LARK (Galerida cristata)

The Crested Lark (Galerida cristata) is a small, robust passerine bird, approximately 17 cm in height with a wingspan ranging from 29 to 38 cm. It weighs between 37 and 55 grams. Both sexes are similar in appearance, with a brown plumage that is paler on the underparts and a distinctive crest on the head, which is raised prominently during displays. The tail is short with light brown outer feathers, and the underwings exhibit a reddish hue in flight.

Adult Crested Larks are characterized by their brown, streaky plumage with a paler underside. The young birds can be identified by the additional spots on their backs. The species' most notable feature is its crest, which can be seen at all times but is particularly prominent during territorial or courtship displays. In flight, the reddish underwings are a key identification marker.

The Crested Lark is found in dry, open landscapes such as fields, roadsides, and wastelands. It has adapted well to human-altered environments and can often be seen in areas with sparse vegetation, such as sandy patches near railways, docks, and airfields.

This lark has a wide range across temperate Eurasia, from Portugal to northeastern China and eastern India, and in Africa down to Niger. It is a resident bird, meaning it does not migrate seasonally. However, it is a rare vagrant to Great Britain.

The Crested Lark is known for its undulating flight pattern and its melodious, warbling song, which can be heard from high in the sky or at ground level. It is a territorial bird that sings to establish its presence, often from a height of 30 to 60 meters.

The song of the Crested Lark is a liquid series of notes, often transcribed as "whee-whee-wheeoo" or "twee-tee-too." It is a characteristic sound of open country in its range.

The Crested Lark nests on the ground in shallow depressions, using dead grasses and roots to construct its nest. It typically lays three to five brown, finely speckled eggs, which hatch after about 11 to 12 days. The young are precocial and leave the nest early, becoming fully fledged at around 15 to 16 days old. The species often raises two broods per year.

Primarily vegetarian, the Crested Lark feeds on grains and seeds such as oats, wheat, and barley. It also consumes insects, particularly beetles. Juveniles are fed by both parents and start foraging on their own shortly before they are capable of flight.

11-10-2017 DEVESA, VALENCIA - CRESTED LARK (Galerida cristata)

The crested lark (Galerida cristata ) is a species of lark widespread across Eurasia and northern Africa. It is a non-migratory bird, but can occasionally be found as a vagrant in Great Britain.

A fairly small lark, the crested lark is roughly the same size as a Eurasian skylark, but shorter overall and bulkier around the head and body, and very similar in appearance, with a height of 17 cm (6.7 in) and a wingspan of 29 to 38 cm (11 to 15 in), weighing between 37 and 55 g (1.3 and 1.9 oz). It is a small, brown bird which has a short tail with light brown outer feathers. Male and females have no real differences, but young crested larks have more spots on their back than their older counterparts. Its plumage is downy but sparse and appears whitish. The distinct crest from which the crested lark gets its name is conspicuous at all times but is more pronounced during territorial or courtship displays and when singing. In flight it shows reddish underwings. It shares many characteristics with the Thekla lark, with the main distinctions between the two being the beak, the Thekla's heavier black-brown streaks and its grey underwing, present in European specimens.

15-9-2015 EL HIJO, VALENCIA - CRESTED LARK (Galerida cristata) (PHOTO BY VALERIE FISHER)

The crested lark (Galerida cristata) is a species of lark widespread across Eurasia and northern Africa. It is a non-migratory bird, but can occasionally be found as a vagrant in Great Britain.

A fairly small lark, the crested lark is roughly the same size as a Eurasian skylark, but shorter overall and bulkier around the head and body, and very similar in appearance,[7] with a height of 17 cm (6.7 in) and a wingspan of 29 to 38 cm (11 to 15 in), weighing between 37 and 55 g (1.3 and 1.9 oz). It is a small, brown bird which has a short tail with light brown outer feathers. Male and females have no real differences, but young crested larks have more spots on their back than their older counterparts. Its plumage is downy but sparse and appears whitish. The distinct crest from which the crested lark gets its name is conspicuous at all times but is more pronounced during territorial or courtship displays and when singing. In flight it shows reddish underwings. It shares many characteristics with the Thekla lark, with the main distinctions between the two being the beak, the Thekla's heavier black-brown streaks and its grey underwing, present in European specimens.