Greater Hoopoe-Lark
Alaemon alaudipes
The Greater Hoopoe-Lark (Alaemon alaudipes) is a rare lark found in 31 countries, weighing about 44 g. The greater hoopoe-lark is a passerine bird which is a breeding resident of arid, desert and semi-desert regions from the Cape Verde Islands across much of northern Africa, through the Arabian Peninsula, Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.
About the Greater Hoopoe-Lark
The greater hoopoe-lark is a passerine bird which is a breeding resident of arid, desert and semi-desert regions from the Cape Verde Islands across much of northern Africa, through the Arabian Peninsula, Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. It was formerly known as the bifasciated lark and sometimes as the large desert lark.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
This lark is large, long-legged and slender-bodied with a distinctive down-curved bill. The face has dark markings including a line through the eye and whisker like-lines from the base of bill running under the eye. The breast is spotted and the underside is buffy white while the upper-parts are sandy grey. The female is slightly smaller with less prominent markings and the bill is slightly shorter. The hind claw is short and straight. The curved upper beak has the nostril opening exposed. The tongue is bifid at the tip.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in March. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Greater Hoopoe-Lark?
- This lark is large, long-legged and slender-bodied with a distinctive down-curved bill. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Greater Hoopoe-Lark?
- The Greater Hoopoe-Lark is a small sized bird weighing about 44 g.
- Where can you see a Greater Hoopoe-Lark?
- The Greater Hoopoe-Lark occurs in 31 countries, including Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and India.
- What birds look similar to a Greater Hoopoe-Lark?
- The Greater Hoopoe-Lark is most easily confused with the Lesser Hoopoe-Lark.
- Is the Greater Hoopoe-Lark endangered?
- The Greater Hoopoe-Lark is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Greater Hoopoe-Lark for real
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