Family Larks (Alaudidae)
Least Concern
Calandra Lark (Melanocorypha calandra)
Taxonomy
French: Alouette calandre German: Kalanderlerche Spanish: Calandria común
Taxonomy:
Alauda calandra
Linnaeus
, 1766,Pyrenees, Spain–France border
.Geographical variation rather slight, and small clinal increase in size from W to E. Proposed races dathei (SE Turkey) and hollomi (E Turkey) included respectively in gaza and nominate. Four subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution
M. c. calandra
(Linnaeus, 1766) – Iberia and France E to S Russia and NW Kazakhstan, S (including Mediterranean islands of Sardinia, Sicily, Cyprus) to NW Africa (N Morocco E to N Libya), Turkey (except SC & SE), Transcaucasia and NW Iran.
M. c. hebraica
R. Meinertzhagen, 1920 – SC Turkey and adjacent NW Syria S to Israel, Palestine and W Jordan.
M. c. gaza
R. Meinertzhagen, 1919 – SE Turkey, E Syria, Iraq and SW Iran.
M. c. psammochroa
E. J. O. Hartert, 1904 – N Iraq and N Iran (Zagros Mts E to Khorasan) E to Turkmenistan and S & E Kazakhstan. Partially migratory in winter to S Iran.
Descriptive notes
18–20 cm; male c. 54–73 g, female 44–66 g. Large, quite robust lark with deep-based heavy bill markedly downcurved on culmen, rather long broad-based wings... read more
Voice
Song, usually in flight but sometimes from ground, an extended medley of rolling trills mixed with... read more
Habitat
Open plains, from steppes and pastures to extensive dry cereal cultivations; true steppe, with... read more
Food and feeding
Mainly insects during spring, and seeds and shoots in winter. Wide variety of invertebrates, dominated by grasshoppers (Acrididae) and... read more
Breeding
Laying from early Apr to Jul (groups of males arrive in breeding areas in Feb–Mar); two broods per season. Monogamous. Solitary and... read more
Movements
Mediterranean populations chiefly resident, but outside breeding season wandering in flocks. E... read more
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened. Common to very common in many parts of range; rare, and declining, in others. In Europe, populations concentrated mainly in Iberia and Russia;... read more
Range map erroneous for France
Distribution map is erroneous for the french range of the species. Indeed it is currently only present in very few locations around mediterranean coast, mainly in the Crau area. The map is showing several further north locations for this species which very look like the ditribution of the Greater short-toed lark (Calandrella brachydactyla) in France. There is obviously a confusion between the two species. Thank you for correcting it.
Breeding Status of Calandra Lark in Armenia
The information in Adamian & Klem (1999) that the species breeds in Armenia has no evidence. Until now, there is no evidence of breeidng of the species in Armenia, although some individuals have been observed in the country during breeding season. So here further investigations required.
Abundance of Calandra Lark in Armenia
In Armenia the species occurs in relatively high number during winter, moving to Armenia from October - November (sometimes even September) and staying in the country until March - April (sometimes - March).