Malabar lark
The Malabar lark, or Malabar crested lark (Galerida malabarica) is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in western India.
Malabar lark | |
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A pair of Galerida malabarica from Mangaon, Maharashtra, India | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Alaudidae |
Genus: | Galerida |
Species: | G. malabarica |
Binomial name | |
Galerida malabarica (Scopoli, 1786) | |
Synonyms | |
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Taxonomy and systematics
Originally, the Malabar lark was classified in the genus Alauda before being moved to its present genus. Also, some authorities have considered the Thekla lark to be a subspecies of the Malabar lark.[2]
Description
![](../I/m/Malabar_lark_(Galerida_malabarica)_Sakleshpur_India_Oct_2008_sideview.jpg)
This is a smallish lark, slightly smaller than the Eurasian skylark. It has a long spiky erectile crest. It is greyer than the skylark, and lacks the white wing and tail edges of that species, which is a winter visitor to India.
It is very similar to the crested lark, which breeds in northern India. The Malabar lark is smaller and dark-streaked reddish brown in plumage, whereas the crested lark is grey. The belly is white. The sexes are similar.
Sykes's lark is another Indian relative that also has reddish-brown plumage, but is smaller, shorter-billed, with a stiff upright crest and has plain rufous underparts.
Distribution and habitat
The Malabar lark is found in western India. It is a common bird of open country, cultivation and scrub, often at some altitude.
Behaviour and ecology
The Malabar lark is a sedentary breeding bird that nests on the ground, laying two or three eggs. Its food is seeds and insects, the latter especially in the breeding season.
References
- BirdLife International (2012). "Galerida malabarica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- "Galerida theklae - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
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