Species:

Mediterranean Short-toed Lark (Alaudala rufescens)

Storm Petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus)

Change species:
Main Images:
Length (cm):
13-14
14-18
Wingspan (cm):
24-32
36-39
Weight (gram):
21-30
23-30
Size group:
Sparrow-size
Thrush-size
Main Texts:
Appearance:

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:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Xeno-canto: map

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

Appearance:

Rarely seen, small petrel. Compact with shorter wings and tail, and blacker plumage than Leach's Storm-Petrel. Squared, unforked tail. White patch on upper tail coverts that reaches down on each side, with more square-cut edges than in Leach's. Also lacks the grey upper wing-band of latter, but shows white stripe on underside of wing. Flight-pattern bat-like with quick fluttering wing-beats and less powerful, and only short, gliding sequences. Sometimes patters with feet on the surface or rests on water. Visits breeding ground at night.

Sound:

Heard at breeding ground. Dry, cyclic, rattling and cooing, interrupted by deeper nasal moaning or a higher pitched "kee-ee-kee", with emphasis on second syllable.

Song:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

CC-sound:Dougie Preston, Licence,Link.

Similar species (image):
Silhouette Group:
Wagtail/pipit-like
Silhouette
Swallow-like
Silhouette
Several different images of the species
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Several different sounds of the species
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file