Calandra lark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Calandra lark |
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Melanocorypha
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calandra
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The calandra lark (Melanocorypha calandra) is a type of bird found in warm areas. It lives around the Mediterranean Sea and stretches east through Turkey into northern Iran and southern Russia. This bird is known for its lovely song. It is related to the bimaculated lark, which lives in areas further to the east.
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About the Calandra Lark's Name
The calandra lark was first placed in a group of birds called Alauda. Its current scientific name, Melanocorypha, comes from Ancient Greek. Melas means "black," and koruphos was a word for a bird. The name "calandra" also comes from an Ancient Greek word, kalandros, which was the name for this bird.
Different Types of Calandra Larks
There are four main types, or subspecies, of the calandra lark:
- Western calandra lark (M. c. calandra): This type lives in southern Europe and north-western Africa. You can also find it in Turkey (but not the south-central or south-eastern parts), Transcaucasia, and north-western Iran.
- Eastern calandra lark (M. c. psammochroa): This one is found from northern Iraq and northern Iran all the way to Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.
- M. c. gaza (M. c. gaza): This type lives from eastern Syria and south-eastern Turkey to south-western Iran.
- Levant calandra lark (M. c. hebraica): You can find this lark from south-central Turkey and north-western Syria to Israel and western Jordan.
What Does the Calandra Lark Look Like?
This is a fairly large and strong lark. It grows to be about 17.5 to 20 centimeters (7 to 8 inches) long. When it's on the ground, it looks quite plain. It is mostly streaky greyish-brown on its back and white underneath. A cool feature is the large black patches on the sides of its chest. It also has a white stripe above its eye.
When it flies, you can see its short, wide wings, which are dark underneath. Its tail is short and has white edges. These wing and tail patterns help tell it apart from its relatives that live further east.
The calandra lark's song sounds a bit like a slower version of the skylark's song. It's very musical!
Where Do Calandra Larks Live?
Most calandra larks in the western part of their range stay in the same area all year. However, the larks from Russia are more migratory. They fly further south in winter, sometimes reaching the Arabian peninsula and Egypt. It's very rare to see one in western Europe.
This bird loves open fields, especially farmlands and steppe areas. It builds its nest on the ground. The female usually lays 4 or 5 eggs. These birds eat seeds, but during the breeding season, they also enjoy eating insects. Outside of the breeding season, they often gather in large groups.
How Calandra Larks Live Their Lives
Calandra larks prefer open, flat areas. This includes grasslands, pastures, and large dry fields where crops like cereals are grown. In places around the Mediterranean Sea, they often live in dry pastures and dry farmlands. They especially like fields that are not being used for crops at the moment, or the edges of fields.
These birds are monogamous, meaning they have one partner. They lay their eggs from early April to July. The nest is made from grass stems and small leaves. It's lined with softer materials and built in a small dip on the ground, often hidden under a clump of grass. A clutch usually has three to six eggs.
Their diet changes with the seasons. In the summer, they mostly eat insects. In the winter, they switch to eating seeds and young grass shoots. The calandra larks living in Mediterranean areas stay there all year. They form big groups in the autumn and winter. Larks from eastern areas might migrate or move only part of the way.
In Culture
People have always loved the calandra lark's song. Because its song is so beautiful, it used to be a popular cagebird in the areas where it lives.
You can find mentions of this bird in old sayings and stories. For example, in the Tuscan proverb "Canta come una calandra", which means "he or she sings like a lark." It's also mentioned in a Spanish ballad called "Romance del prisionero". In this story, the prisoner knows when morning comes only by hearing the calandra lark's song.
