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PLATE 79: LARKS II
Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark Eremopterix nigriceps RB
L: 12. Small stocky lark with stout, deep-based, pale blue-grey bill with curved culmen. Male
unmistakable. Female has unstreaked pale sandy-grey upperparts, faintly streaked crown,
pale face and hindneck, buffish underparts, faintly streaked across upper breast, and darkish
underwing-coverts. From Bar-tailed Lark by heavier bill and unmarked tail-tip. Flight bouncing;
feeds on bare ground. Voice Song, often uttered in circling display flight, a repetition of 2–4 loud,
sweet notes chee-dee-vee or pooo, pee-voo-pee. Flight calls bubbling twitter, dry rrrp or soft tchep.
Habitat Semi-desert, sandy or stony plains with low scrub, edges of cultivation, saltflats, coastal
dunes. Note Nomadic outside breeding season.Singing Bush Lark Mirafra cantillans MB, rb
L: 15. Broad-winged, fairly short-tailed lark with low, weak, fluttering undulating flight (songflight
with bat-like, jerky wingbeats). Yellowish-horn bill strong, longer than deep with pronounced
curved culmen. Adult has dull rufous tinge to flight feathers, warm buff in immature. Upperparts
streaked darker, buffish-white underparts with finely streaked breast, forming dark spot at breast-
sides; tertials long, reaching wing-tip; white at sides of tail hard to see, as tail closed in flight.
Voice Song from ground, post or in air, chattering but musical, ending in Corn Bunting-like jingle
ti-vit-tir-wit, che, che, che, che, che accelerating and descending. Call a quiet proop-proop. Habitat
Dry grassy and bushy plains, mountains, sparse semi-deserts; often near cultivation. Note Resident
(or migrant breeder) in S Oman.Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis pm, wv
L: 18. Medium-sized with earth-grey to sandy upperparts, streaked dark with warm brown edges
to tertials and coverts in fresh plumage; underparts buffish-white heavily streaked on breast; can
show a small crest (much smaller than Crested Lark); head markings rather indistinct. Juvenile has
upperparts spotted dark with scaly ochre markings. In flight, shows distinct whitish trailing edge
to wings (except in juvenile) and broad triangular tail with white sides. Voice When flushed and in
flight gives a variable rolled chrriup; or trruwee. Habitat High and low grasslands, cultivated fields; in
winter more widely in open areas. Avoids deserts. Note Passage and winter hatched.Oriental Skylark Alauda gulgula pm, wv
L: 16. Similar to Eurasian Skylark, but smaller with obviously shorter tail, comparatively longer, more
pointed bill, and very short primary projection; also slightly rusty tinge to ear-coverts and fringes of
flight feathers. In flight, size of Woodlark with similarly short tail; broad wings have inconspicuous
buffish trailing edge (white in Eurasian Skylark). Also from Eurasian Skylark by call, duller head
marks, and tail having buffish-white outer feathers (bleaching to white). Voice Distinctive flight
calls are soft pyhp or twip recalling Ortolan Bunting, and a characteristic hard buzzing bzzeebz or baz-
baz. Habitat Open grassy and cultivated lowlands, but also grassy hills. Note Passage and winter
hatched, but rare; probably overlooked. [Alt: Small Skylark]Crested Lark Galerida cristata RB
L: 17. Rather stocky, short-tailed lark with long spiky crest. Upperparts sandy-grey or rusty,
diffusely streaked darker on hindneck and mantle; breast more heavily streaked. Flight flappy,
broad wings showing rusty-buff underwings; short tail blackish-brown with cinnamon sides.
Lacks white trailing edge to wing. Juvenile heavily pale-spotted above. Voice Clear du-ee, also
varying fluty ee or uu sounds. Song sweet and plaintive with phrases of 4–6 repeated notes; slower,
clearer and shorter than Eurasian Skylark, often includes mimicry; from exposed perch or high in air.
Habitat Grassy or arid country, cultivated plains and semi-deserts; often near habitation, tracks and
roadsides. Note Gathers in large post-breeding flocks.