Birds of Mongolia

ID Larger and stockier than Eurasian Skylark, with longer decurved bill and (most notably) a much longer and more pointed crest. It also lacks Eurasian Skylark’s white outer tail-feathers and pale trailing edge on secondaries. Compare also distribution. Voice Sings from ground and during display flight, a pleasant and varied series of twittering notes. Call is a plaintive trisyllabic tree-wee-woo, also too-wee. Habitat Low-lying and sparsely vegetated areas with patchy tall grass in transit zone between arid steppe and Gobi Desert. Sometimes occurs in town centres and settlements in drier areas. Behaviour Feeds on ground, shuffling along as it searches for seeds and insects. Status Uncommon and local resident breeder and partial migrant from Great Lakes Depression and Mongol-Altai, south and east in drier areas through the Gobi. Generally absent from more humid areas to north and the far east, though wandering birds appear to the north, including near Ulaanbaatar. Birds present in breeding areas mid-April to early October; degree of wintering depends on snow cover and seed availability.

ID Short-toed lark species may be distinguished from other lark species by their smaller size, overall paler/greyer coloration and short, thick finch-like bills. Mongolian Short-toed (only slightly larger) is best identified by clear breast (which may have minor streaking at upper margins), long tertials reaching tip of wing, and in most individuals small black patches on upper breast (like broken collar). It also may show a contrasting dark wing-bar. Asian Short-toed Lark is very similar, but has finely, but distinctly, streaked breast and shorter bill than Mongolian. See also voice, habitat and distribution. Voice Song is a halting and rather toneless twittering; also a longer song confusable with other larks. Calls include a chirping tchrip also drier prrrt; at times very similar to Asian. Habitat Well-vegetated areas with scattered small shrubs and tall grasses in dry steppe and Gobi Desert, as well as valleys of rivers and lakes. Behaviour Nests and feeds on ground. Forms post-breeding flocks of up to 500, mixing with other lark species. Status Fairly common breeding visitor in eastern steppe (dukhunensis) and some areas of north-west Mongolia (longipennis); fairly common passage migrant throughout. Generally present mid-April to early October; a few individuals may winter in steppe, depending on snow cover and food availability. Race orientalis may occur in northern Mongolia. Taxonomy Formerly considered to be a subspecies of Greater Short-toed Lark C. brachydactyla.

ID Best distinguished from Mongolian Short-toed Lark by finely, but distinctly streaked breast, shorter, stubbier bill, and absence of black patches at sides of upper breast. At very close range the tips of tertials never reach the tips of primaries in the folded wing (Mongolian has very long tertials). See also Voice. Voice Song is sweeter and more varied than that of Mongolian Short-toed Lark, including some mimicry. Flight call quite different from Mongolian – is a dry, gravelly drrrt sometimes compared to Sand Martin’s call. Habitat All types of steppe with tall grasses and small shrubs (e.g. Caragana) including drier areas in valleys of saline lakes and marshes. Behaviour Similar to Mongolian Short-toed Lark. Status Common and local breeding visitor and passage migrant throughout, late March to early April and early September to early October. Taxonomy Recent field research has determined that two Alaudala larks occur in Mongolia, A. cheleensis (Asian Short-toed Lark) in the north-east and another, very similar, form in the south which is currently considered to be a subspecies of Lesser Short-toed Lark A. rufescens heinei; the taxonomy of the latter will be the subject of a forthcoming paper.

ID Shorter crest, white outer tail-feathers and white trailing edge of wings are main points of difference from Crested Lark. Larger, with more variegated upperparts and longer, more pointed bill than short-toed lark species. Juv has less contrasting plumage, pale-tipped buff upperparts and buff-edged flight- and tail-feathers. Voice Song is a continuous exuberant medley of high twitters, chirps and whistles, frequently delivered in impressive towering song-flight and lasting as long as 15 minutes. Common call is a rolling chrrik or chirrrup. Habitat Variety of open, typically moist habitats in steppe, valleys of lakes and rivers, and cultivated land. Behaviour Feeds and nests on ground. Small numbers of adult birds flock with other larks in winter, depending on snow cover and seed availability. Status Generally common breeding visitor and passage migrant, absent only from highest and driest areas; occurs throughout country on migration. Mainly mid-April to early September; sporadic in winter.

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LARKS I

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