Tawny Owl (Strix aluco)
Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla)
Dark eyes and dark wedge dividing the facial disks. Bill pale grey, not yellow like Ural Owl. Plumage rather indiscreet, with colour ranging from grey to rufous brown. Body shape characteristic; tubby and barrel-like, with short tail and short rounded wings. Flight with characteristic frequent glides on arched wings.
Sound:Song a resonant descending "hoooooo". After 2-3 sec. typically followed by a slightly ascending, vibrating "hohohohohoho" and quickly another descending "hooooooo". Complete phrase: "hoooooo, hohohohohoho-hoooooo". May omit parts. Other often heard sounds; a sharp, short, disyllabic "kiu-wik". First syllable ascending then descending, and last ascending in pitch.
Song, contact call:
Distribution:
Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CCSmall, compact lark with finch-like bill. 30% smaller than Skylark. Primaries almost completely covered by tertiaries, as opposed to Lesser Short-toed Lark. Upperparts typical lark-like, while underparts are almost unstreaked. Most individuals shows small, black shoulder patch. Bill deep, but pointed. Base colour variable, but western birds usually warmer brown than eastern. Lacks crest. Crown is rather flat (often rufous) and head squarish. Tail black with buff centre and pure white outer feathers. Often forms finch-like flocks when not breeding. Flight moderately undulating.
Sound:Contact call a dry, short and House Sparrow-like "chirrrp", with a high-pitched component. Shorter than Skylark, and crisper and straighter than Lesser Short-toed Lark. Song usually performed high in the air, but can also be heard from the ground. 2 types of song. Either in short phrases with a typical duration of 1-3 seconds each, with stuttering introduction, and falling cadence. Other song type more confusing and harder to identify, consisting of a continuous stream of energic improvisation. Listen for interwoven contact calls, and lack of Lesser Crested Lark calls. Frequently mimicks other species.
Song:
Distribution:
Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CC