Crested Lark
Galerida cristata
Medium sized lark with a prominent crest. Separated from the more range-restricted Thekla's Lark by longer bill with straight lower mandible and usually longer and spikier crest. Lots of variation in plumage color, which matches local soil types, but usually grayer and darker than Eurasian Skylark. Short tail and rust-tinged underwings obvious in flight. Found in dry areas with scarce vegetation, especially agricultural land and at roadsides. Song is an often magnificently long and highly impressive series of varied jumbled twitters, trills, warbles, and slurred notes. Often gives a plaintive “ch’wee.”
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Galerida cristata
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Alaudidae
- Genus
- Galerida
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Moustached Laughingthrush
Ianthocincla cineracea
Pale brown laughingthrush with chalk-blue wing panels, a dark cap, and white eyes. Also note elegantly curving eye-stripes and namesake “moustache.” A hill forest species that favors dense thickets and other bushy habitats. Forages on or near the ground, usually in pairs or small flocks. Gives rising rattling churrs.
Scaled Antpitta
Grallaria guatimalensis
A plump ball on sticks. Uncommon and elusive on forest floor in humid evergreen forest of tropical lowlands and foothills; also in humid pine-oak and fir forest of mountains in central Mexico. Moves quickly and stealthily on long legs. May be seen feeding or hopping along quiet trails and roads. Flushes with a whir of wings without calling. Note obvious pale mustache and pale rusty underparts; dark scaly markings on upperparts often hard to see.
Javan White-eye
Zosterops flavus
Little bright yellow bird found in southern Borneo and northern Java. Entirely yellow coloration (no dark lores or gray belly) distinguishes this species from other white-eyes within its range. A coastal forest specialist, found in coastal scrub forest, mangroves, and forest edge, as well as adjacent gardens and plantations, where it often visits planted langsat (or duku) trees. Often found on small offshore islands. Forages actively in the canopy, giving quiet tweeting and cheeping calls; unlike other white-eyes, not a strong songster. Declining across much of range due to habitat destruction and fragmentation.
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