• The following pages have some identification markers for each of the Larks found in India • To know more on these birds you can visit http://ogaclicks.com/lark/ • If you are interested in Coming on any of my tours or workshops please share your email id. I will keep you updated • Mail me at [email protected] • You can also call me on (91)9840119078 , (91) 9445219078 (91) 6369815812 ©www.ogaclicks.com Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark Identification Tips - Male Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark: Eremopterix griseus: Wide spread Resident in India Pale greyish-brown forehead and crown. Crown indistinctly streaked Black lores and eye band Grey Bill Greyish-brown /pale buffish ear-coverts Throat, neck side and underparts Black Upperparts grey- brown, lightly streaked Pinkish Legs ©www.ogaclicks.com Reference : www.HBW.com Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark Identification Tips - Female Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark: Eremopterix griseus: Wide spread Resident in India Buffish Supercilium Grey Bill Brown ear-coverts, ale crescent behind it Breast indistinctly Upperparts grey- streaked brown, lightly streaked Pinkish Legs ©www.ogaclicks.com Reference : www.HBW.com Asian Shot-toed Lark Identification Tips Asian Shot-toed Lark : Calandrella cheleensis persica : Wintor Visitor to West India Whitish narrow supercilium and wide eyering Crown with prominent fine blackish streaks. Bill horn-grey, darker Can be erected on culmen, base of lower mandible yellowish Upperparts grey- brown, broader Breast and sides washed light dark streaks cinnamon-rufous. Finely and densely streaked dark, up to flanks Long primary projection Underparts are white Legs brownish-flesh / yellowish-brown Short tail ©www.ogaclicks.com Reference : www.HBW.com Bengal Bushlark Identification Tips Bengal Bushlark : Mirafra assamica : Resident of Plains and Plateau of North India to East India ( Bihar, Bengal & Assam) Buffish supercilium Crown, mantle and scapulars with moderately distinct dark streaks Bill dark grey above and pinkish below Breast has heavy dark streaks Rufous Wing panel Underparts are rufous-buff Short tail Legs are Pink ©www.ogaclicks.com Reference : www.HBW.com Bimaculated Lark Identification Tips Bimaculated Lark: Melanocorypha bimaculata: Winter visitor to North and North West India Dark loral stripe Prominent whitish supercilium Bill yellowish /pinkish, dark culmen and tip of lower mandible Rufous-tinged ear-coverts Prominent blackish patch on side of lower neck/upper breast (They often meeting thinly in centre) Upper parts are buffy grey- brown /rufescent grey- Breast has fine dark streaks brown, heavily streaked with black streaks Underparts are rufous-buff Short tail Legs are pinkish to yellowish Important Id point Tail tip white ©www.ogaclicks.com Reference : www.HBW.com Bimaculated Lark Identification Tips – Rufous Morph Bimaculated Lark: Melanocorypha bimaculata: Winter visitor to North and North West India Dark loral stripe Prominent whitish supercilium Bill yellowish /pinkish, dark culmen and tip of lower mandible Rufous-tinged ear-coverts Prominent blackish patch on side of lower neck/upper breast (They often meeting thinly in centre) Upper parts are buffy grey- brown /rufescent grey- Breast has fine dark streaks, Is brown, heavily streaked with Rufous black streaks Flanks are Rufous Underparts are rufous-buff Short tail Legs are pinkish to yellowish Important Id point ©www.ogaclicks.com Reference : www.HBW.com Black-crowned Sparrow lark Identification Tips - Male Black-crowned Sparrow lark: Eremopterix nigericeps : Resident of North West India Black-and-white head pattern Narrow white stripe down side of breast Bill is bluish-white Chin and entire underparts black Upperparts sandy-brown with reddish tinge White Thighs Legs are pale flesh ©www.ogaclicks.com Reference : www.HBW.com Black-crowned Sparrow lark Identification Tips - Female Black-crowned Sparrow lark: Eremopterix nigericeps : Resident of North West India Bill duller horny steel-grey Breast is brownish Upperparts grey- with variable streaking rufous, lightly streaked Underparts are White Pinkish Legs ©www.ogaclicks.com Reference : www.HBW.com Crested Lark Identification Tips Crested Lark : Galerida cristata chendoola : Resident of North , Gujarat and North West India Prominent long, spiky crest, Bill dark horn above, Buff-white supercilium and eyering pale yellow-flesh below Dark eyestripe Dark Moustachial Stripe Dark malar stripe Upperparts buffish Buff on breast side grey-brown, heavily with broad blackish streaked dark spot-like streaks brown Buff on flanks with narrow and more diffuse streaks Legs are pale flesh coloured ©www.ogaclicks.com Reference : www.HBW.com Desert Lark Identification Tips Desert Lark : Ammomanes deserti phoenicuroides : Resident of North , Gujarat and North West India Faint dark loral stripe Bill pale brown / yellowish, darker Buff supercilium, faint pale eyering grey-horn culmen and tip Upper parts are Plain. dark grey-brown to Faint malar stripe Isabelline-brown Throat whitish Rufous-tinged tail feathers Chest with diffuse streaking becoming blackish-centred towards tips, forming diffuse, triangular-shaped terminal band Underparts buffish Legs dull flesh to greyish / yellowish-brown, duller on toes Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Eurasian Skylark Identification Tips Eurasian Skylark : Alauda arvensis dulcivox : Winters in North West India Short erectile crest Bill pale horn Whitish supercilium and eyering Thin dark moustachial stripe Dark ear-coverts Thin dark malar stripe Upperparts olive- brown / brownish- rufous with heavy Breast washed light blackish streaks rufous-buff and heavily streaked blackish Flanks with narrower streaks Legs are pale yellowish- brown / flesh-coloured ©www.ogaclicks.com Reference : www.HBW.com Greater Hoopoe Lark Identification Tips Greater Hoopoe Lark : Alaemon alaudipes doriae : Resident of North West India Creamy supercilium Bill dark grey. thin and Well-marked head pattern decurved bill with very pointed mandibles Long and narrow dark eyestripe Blackish moustachial stripe Breast is creamy, blotched Upperparts are sandy with small blackish spots or buffy brown Underparts are White Legs are pale grey ©www.ogaclicks.com Reference : www.HBW.com Greater Short-toed Lark Identification Tips Greater Short-toed Lark : Callendralla brachydactyla longipennis : Winter visitor to North West India Broad whitish supercilium Head is densely streaked and rufous- Bill is pale horn-coloured, tinged, with erectile feathers darker culmen and tip, yellowish on mandible Grey-brown cheeks Throat is White Breast is with faint buff Upperparts are warm tinge and fine dark brown to grey-brown streaks and heavy black streaks Tail blackish brown, Underparts are White centre brown, white outer feathers Legs are pale brownish flesh to light brown ©www.ogaclicks.com Reference : www.HBW.com Horned Lark Identification Tips Horned Lark : Eremophila alpestris longirostris : Resident of Ladhak in India Broad whitish supercilium Elongated lateral crown feathers like Horns Bill is dark Grey to Black Grey-brown cheeks black of cheek band and chest separated by white lower neck side Upperparts are sandy flank washed pinkish-rufous Underparts are White Legs are black Tail blackish Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Hume's Short-toed Lark Identification Tips Hume's Short-toed Lark : Calandrella acutirostris tibetana : Winters in North subcontinent eastwards to Sikkim and North East India White supercilium Crown slightly rufous-tinged and faintly Distinct dark loral stripe dark-streaked Bill is pale brownish- yellow or greyish- yellow, culmen and tip of lower mandible dark grey Upperparts are grey-brown and Small blackish patch on side of heavily streaked dark lower neck/upper breast breast washed buffish to more brown-grey Underparts are White Legs are pinkish to brownish Tail Blackish -brown ©www.ogaclicks.com Reference : www.HBW.com Indian Bushlark Identification Tips Indian Bushlark : Mirafra erythroptera: Widespread resident in India from Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat eastwards to Odisha, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, Southwards to South Karnataka Whitish or pale buffish supercilium crown, nape and upperparts rufescent grey-brown, heavily streaked Bill is pinkish, grey culmen Prominent spotting on ear coverts , pronounced dark border to ear coverts Upperparts are heavily streaked and warmer Breast with large Sandy-buff to rufous -buff blackish-brown spots Extensive Rufous on wings Tail is black Underparts are White Legs are pinkish ©www.ogaclicks.com Reference : www.HBW.com Jerdon's Bushlark Identification Tips Jerdon's Bushlark : Mirafra affinis : Resident of South East & South India Narrow supercilium, buffish Crown, nape and mantle rufescent grey-brown, in front of eye, paler buffish heavily streaked or whitish above and Whitish band on side of behind eye nape/rearmost ear-coverts Larger bill, upper Ear-coverts are pale grey-brown mandible mostly dark with dark rear border formed by grey, lower mandible streaks mostly pinkish Upperparts are heavily streaked and warmer Sandy-buff to rufous -buff Breast with heavy blackish spots Tail is short Extensive Rufous on wings Underparts are Buffish Legs are pinkish Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Jerdon's Bushlark Identification Tips Jerdon's Bushlark : Mirafra affinis : Resident of South East & South India Narrow supercilium, buffish Crown, nape and mantle rufescent grey-brown, in front of eye,