Crested Lark vs Thekla's Lark: How to Tell Them Apart

Crested Lark

Galerida cristata

Small43 gGrassland

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.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recorded by Philippe_Grange · Song · Arrondissement de Béziers (near Agel), Hérault, Occitanie, France · CC0

Photo: (c) Koshy Koshy, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by

Thekla's Lark

Galerida theklae

Small38 gShrubland

This is a smallish lark, slightly smaller than the Eurasian skylark. It has a long, spiky, erectile crest. Its colouring is similar to the widespread crested lark (G. cristata), being predominantly brownish-grey or brown, although its back and rump are greyer than that species. Its breast is streaked with black. It is smaller and somewhat greyer than the crested lark, and has a shorter bill. In flight, it shows grey underwings, whereas the crested lark has reddish underwings. It is also greyer than the Eurasian skylark, and lacks the white wing and tail edge of that species.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recorded by Joost van Bruggen · Song · El Condado (near Almonte), Huelva, Andalucía, Spain · CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: antoterryn · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

Spain Portugal France Morocco Tunisia Algeria Kenya Libya Eritrea

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Crested Lark and Thekla's Lark.