Scottish Crossbill (Loxia scotica)
Mediterranean Short-toed Lark (Alaudala rufescens)
Only in the UK. Similar to Red and Parrot Crossbill in plumage. Bill size possibly the only visual identification clue, but even this overlaps with the other two species. Bill is usually deeper and heavier than Red Crossbill. Certain separation from Parrot Crossbill in the field by visual characters alone, probably not possible. Species status mainly upheld by isolated breeding population and differences in excitement calls from other crossbills. Calls probably play an important role in maintaining the reproduction barrier between Crossbill populations with different bill-size. See Birdlife link below for more info.
Sound:Calls very similar to Parrot Crossbill, and sonogram analysis may be needed for certain identification. Flight and excitement calls show most unique quality. Sonogram image above by Ron Summers (used with permission). A detailed article about crossbill calls can be found here.
Distribution:Xeno-canto: map
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CCCollage photo By Richard Crossley (The Crossley ID Guide Britain and Ireland) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.
Small lark with short, blunt bill and markedly streaked breast. The long primary projection is not covered by the tertials, as in (Greater) Short-toed Lark. Upperparts browner, and the dark shoulder patch og GSL is missing. Supercilium reaches all the way to bill-base. Wing-markings diffuse. Flight and behaviour similar to GSL. Sometimes performs song flight in characteristic "slow motion".
Sound:Contact call most diagnostic. A drawn, rattling "prrrrrrrt". Longer than in GSL, and less defined. Last syllable (t) accented and with a lower pitch. Song more continuous than in GSL, with a jerky rhythm and lots of mimicry. Listen for the interweaved contact calls.
Contact call, song:
Distribution:
Xeno-canto: map
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CC