Thekla's lark has several East Africansubspecies that show deep genetic divergence both among themselves and from the Mediterranean populations and are consequently strong candidates for consideration as separate species. Formerly, some authorities considered the Thekla lark to be a subspecies of the Malabar lark. Alternate names for Thekla lark include short-crested lark and Thekla crested-lark.
Subspecies
Twelve subspecies are recognized:
G. t. theklae - Brehm, AE, 1857: Also known as Iberian Thekla's lark. Found in Portugal, Spain, Balearic Islands and extreme southern France
North Moroccan Thekla's lark - Hartert, 1904: Found in northern Morocco
Central Moroccan Thekla's lark - Whitaker, 1898: Found in central and north-eastern Morocco, northern Algeria and northern Tunisia
G. t. theresae - Meinertzhagen, R, 1939: Found in south-western Morocco and Mauritania
Hauts Plateaux Thekla's lark - Hartert, 1897: Found in eastern Morocco, northern Algeria and eastern Tunisia
North African Thekla's lark - Erlanger, 1897: Found in eastern Morocco through the northern Sahara to north-western Egypt
G. t. harrarensis - Érard & Jarry, 1973: Found in eastern Ethiopia
G. t. huei - Érard & Naurois, 1973: Found in south-central Ethiopia
Abyssinian Thekla's lark - : Found in southern Eritrea to central Ethiopia
Somali Thekla's lark - Hartert, 1897: Originally described as a separate species. Found in northern and central Somalia
G. t. mallablensis - Colston, 1982: Found in southern Somalia
G. t. huriensis - Benson, 1947: Found in southern Ethiopia and northern Kenya
Description
This is a smallish lark, slightly smaller than the Eurasian skylark. It has a long, spiky, erectile crest. It is greyer than the Eurasian skylark, and lacks the white wing and tail edge of that species. It is very similar to the widespread crested lark. It is smaller and somewhat greyer than that species, and has a shorter bill. In flight it shows grey underwings, whereas the crested lark has reddish underwings. The body is mainly dark-streaked grey above and whitish below. The sexes are similar.
Distribution and habitat
Thekla's lark is native and resident in France, Spain, Portugal, Algeria, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Morocco, Somalia, Tunisia and Western Sahara. Its typical habitat is rugged areas with scrub, bare patches of ground and semi-arid grassland.
It nests on the ground, laying two to six eggs. Its food is weed, seeds and insects, the latter especially in the breeding season. The song is melodious and varied, with mournful whistles and mimicry included. It is softer and more tuneful than that of the crested lark, and may be sung during flight or from the ground or an exposed perch.
