. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club. Bulletin 11 Vol. 82. On the left, three Crested Larks from Thrace (early March) compared with three specimens from Drama (January). (Photographs by John Howard) recent trips to the eastern Mediterranean for the Peabody Museum. Series of specimens were borrowed from the American Museum of Natural History for comparison. The author is grateful to Dr. Charles Vaurie for loan of specimens under his care. In an effort to clarify the taxonomic and evolutionary status of South Balkan, Aegean and Asia Minor birds, the following notes are presented
. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club. Bulletin 11 Vol. 82. On the left, three Crested Larks from Thrace (early March) compared with three specimens from Drama (January). (Photographs by John Howard) recent trips to the eastern Mediterranean for the Peabody Museum. Series of specimens were borrowed from the American Museum of Natural History for comparison. The author is grateful to Dr. Charles Vaurie for loan of specimens under his care. In an effort to clarify the taxonomic and evolutionary status of South Balkan, Aegean and Asia Minor birds, the following notes are presented based on this material. The Crested Lark is one of the most common and characteristic birds of the lands surrounding the eastern Mediterranean. The species occurs in a great variety of habitats from sea level to at least 6000 feet, usually on fairly flat ground. Crested Lark populations may be found breeding wherever cover is sparse and the terrian is arid, in agriciultural and pasture land, steppe, Mediterranean phrygana with scattered small bushes, and semi-desert, in the spring, they feed over damp, almost inundated, fields, and in the late summer on barren and parched wastes. Only forests and the alpine zone lack breeding populations of this ubiquitous bird. Crested Larks become extremely worn by the beginning of the breeding season in April and May so that it is desirable to have freshly moulted autumn specimens for comparison. It is also possible, however, that these may not be members of the local breeding population (Vaurie, 1951). Since there is but one moult per year from July through September, the only seasonal differences are due to wear. Seasonal wear abraids the pale edges of the feathers extremely quickly; even one month can bring about a pronounced change in the appearance of the dark centres of the dorsal feathers (Stresemann, 1920). In addition, the general colouration becomes more bleached and faded to sandy. Streaking on the breast tends to be- come spotti
Size: 1984px × 1260px
Photo credit: © Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookauthorbritishornithologistsclub, bookcentury1900, bookcollec
