>> GENERAL >>>>>
– small passerine, considerably larger than House Sparrow
– short distance migrant with East Asian distribution, not yet recorded in WP
– diurnal/nocturnal migrant
– migrates singly or in small to large, rather loose flocks
– very vocal
>> VISUAL ID >>>>>
Mongolian Lark Melanocorypha mongolica, AD
BIF2097, 17/05/2011, Dornod Aimag, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– strongly built body, fairly strong bill
– unmarked, white underside but black patch on breast side
Mongolian Lark Melanocorypha mongolica, AD
BIF2098, 28/05/2014, Dornod Aimag, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– secondaries appear completely white (bicolored black and white in White-winged Lark)
– outer primaries dark
– all underwing coverts white (light brown lesser coverts in White-winged Lark)
Mongolian Lark Melanocorypha mongolica, AD
BIF2099, 29/05/2014, Dornod Aimag, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– warm rufous and brown
– white in wing broader than in White-winged Lark
Mongolian Lark Melanocorypha mongolica, AD
BIF2100, 28/05/2014, Dornod Aimag, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– outer primaries and primary coverts of same colour (primary coverts rufous in White-winged Lark)
Mongolian Lark Melanocorypha mongolica, AD
BIF2101, 13/06/2014, Dornod Aimag, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
Mongolian Lark Melanocorypha mongolica
BIF2102, 07/09/2017, Dornod Aimag, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– against bright sky wing appear strangely narrow
(note remiges in moult)
Mongolian Lark Melanocorypha mongolica
BIF2103, 07/09/2017, Dornod Aimag, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– (same as BIF2103) weak black patch on breast side possibly owing to moult
Mongolian Lark Melanocorypha mongolica, AD
BIF2104, 29/05/2014, Dornod Aimag, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– white patch visible when wings are folded
Mongolian Lark Melanocorypha mongolica, M AD
BIF2106, 19/05/2011, Dornod Aimag, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– back contrastingly colder coloured than uppertail coverts, rump and wing coverts
Mongolian Lark Melanocorypha mongolica, AD
BIF2107, 19/05/2011, Dornod Aimag, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– wing-pattern resembles Sociable Lapwing
Mongolian Lark Melanocorypha mongolica, M AD
BIF2108, 28/05/2014, Dornod Aimag, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– at greater distance tricoloured upperwing and black patch on breast side diagnostic
>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>
– in flight, typical lark like phrases of brief broadband elements
– number and inflection variable
– usually rasping or rolling, sometimes more whistling timbre
– may sing on return migration to the breeding grounds
– no knowledge about particular ‘migration calls’ as with the similar White-winged Lark
Mongolian Lark Melanocorypha mongolica, 2IND, calls in flight
BIF2125, 25/05/2013, Telmen Nuur, Mongolia, Patrick Franke
Mongolian Lark Melanocorypha mongolica, calls in flight
Brandt’s Horned Lark Eremophila brandtii, song
BIF2121, 25/05/2013, Telmen Nuur, Mongolia, Patrick Franke
Mongolian Lark Melanocorypha mongolica, calls in flight
BIF2122, 25/05/2013, Telmen Nuur, Mongolia, Patrick Franke
Mongolian Lark Melanocorypha mongolica, 3IND, calls in flight
BIF2123, 25/05/2013, Telmen Nuur, Mongolia, Patrick Franke
Mongolian Lark Melanocorypha mongolica, 2IND, calls in flight
BIF2124, 26/05/2013, Telmen Nuur, Mongolia, Patrick Franke
>> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>>
Eurasian Skylark (a)
Bimaculated Lark (a)
Calandra Lark (a)
White-winged Lark (v) (a)
Snow Bunting (v)
#songbird #passerine #lark
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