Mongolian Lark Melanocorypha mongolica Scientific name definitions

18–22 cm; male 54–65 g, female 45–54 g (1 Dunning, J. B., Jr. (2008). CRC Handbook of Avian Body Masses. Second edition. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, USA. Close ). Rather large, quite large-billed, fairly long-winged lark with distinctive pattern. Has long whitish supercilia  joining across nape, latter bordered below by rufous band  , unstreaked rufous crown with pale centre, grey-brown upperparts streaked blackish; lesser and median wing-coverts rufous  , greater coverts and tertials  dark grey-brown with pale tips and edges; remiges  blackish, distal ends of secondaries and inner primaries white (very broad white trailing edge in flight  ), blackish or dark grey-brown primary-coverts; tail blackish, central feather pair browner, outermost pair white; white below, large black patch on side of lower neck/upper breast , white underwing-coverts  ; iris dark brown; bill  pale pinkish or yellowish, tip grey, culmen often grey; legs pale pinkish. Distinguished from Alauda leucoptera mainly by different head pattern, black patch on neck/breast side, dark grey-brown primary coverts, even more white on rear wing. Sexes similar in plumage, female on average smaller. Juvenile lacks rufous colours and prominent black neck patch (but has dark spots on breast, mainly on sides), has distinct pale buffish or whitish fringes and dark submarginal bands above.

Mongolia and neighbouring parts of S Russia and N China.

Favours rather dry grassland , preferentially with patches of denser, taller grass, but also in damper areas with lush grass. Sometimes also in more rocky uplands.

Sedentary or short-distance migrant; N parts of breeding range mainly or completely vacated in winter. Spring migration Mar to early May, mainly in second half of Apr; autumn migration late Aug to Oct or early Nov. In severe winters, may reach well S of breeding range.

Little information. Diet seeds and invertebrates.

Song , from ground or low perch or in flight, a sustained twittering  with interspersed dry notes, reminiscent of that of congeners, especially M. bimaculata. Various harsh, rolling and high-pitched calls  .

Little studied. Season mainly Apr–Aug; two broods. Male song flight with rather slow wingbeats, sometimes quivering on bowed wings. Nest not fully documented, said to be similar to that of congeners. Clutch 3–5 eggs; incubation period 15 days; no information on nestling period.

Not globally threatened. Uncommon to locally common. Rather poorly known species; no population estimates.