White-winged lark

White-winged lark
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Alaudidae
Genus: Alauda
Species:
A. leucoptera
Binomial name
Alauda leucoptera
Pallas, 1811
Synonyms
  • Melanocorypha leucoptera
  • Melanocorypha sibirica

The white-winged lark (Alauda leucoptera) is a species of lark breeding from southwestern Russia east through south-central Russia and Kazakhstan to the extreme west of China. It is partially migratory, with birds moving southwest in winter, west to southern Ukraine and south to northern Iran. The southernmost breeding birds are mainly resident. It is a very rare vagrant to western Europe.

Taxonomy and systematics

The current genus name is from the Latin for lark. The specific leucoptera means "white-winged", from leukos, "white", and pteron, "wing". Formerly, the white-winged lark was classified as belonging to the genus Melanocorypha until moved to Alauda in 2014 following a 2013 genetic study of the family which showed it was more closely related to Alauda than Melanocorypha.

Description

This lark with flashing white wing patches is large and robust, usually 17–19 cm in length, with a wingspan of 35 cm. Both sexes weigh about 44 g. In flight, it is unmistakable due to its striking wing pattern, with black outer flight feathers, white inner flight feathers, and the rest of the wing chestnut. Its body is dark-streaked grey above and whitish below. The adult male has a chestnut crown, but the sexes are otherwise similar.

Vocalisations

Its song is a more melodious version of the Eurasian skylark song.

Behaviour and ecology

Alauda leucoptera eggs – MHNT

The white-winged lark lives in dry, open steppe and plains. It nests on the ground, laying three to eight eggs per clutch. Its diet consists of seeds, and insects during the breeding season. It is gregarious during the winter.

Threats

Habitat destruction due to ploughing and pesticide use are the main threats to the white-winged lark.

Status

Although its population has declined significantly, it is still relatively common, and is not considered to be at risk.

References

  1. 1 2 BirdLife International (2018). "Alauda leucoptera". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018 e.T22717298A131975551. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22717298A131975551.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Jariod, F.; Blanchon, T.; Duquet, M. "The White-winged Lark in France and Europe" (PDF). Post-Ornithos 3 : e2026.04.28. Marc Duquet. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  3. ↑ "Nicators, reedling & larks « IOC World Bird List". www.worldbirdnames.org. Retrieved 2016-12-04.
  4. ↑ Jobling, James A (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 225, 247. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
  5. ↑ Alström, Per; Barnes, Keith N.; Olsson, Urban; Barker, F. Keith; Bloomer, Paulette; Khan, Aleem Ahmed; Qureshi, Masood Ahmed; Guillaumet, Alban; Crochet, Pierre-André; Ryan, Peter G. (2013). "Multilocus phylogeny of the avian family Alaudidae (larks) reveals complex morphological evolution, non-monophyletic genera and hidden species diversity". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 69 (3): 1043–1056. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2013.06.005. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
  6. ↑ "Taxonomy 4.1 to 4.4 « IOC World Bird List". www.worldbirdnames.org. Retrieved 2016-12-04.