Birds Photo Click 74: Greater Short- toed Lark.

Calandrella brachydactyla

The Greater Short- toed Lark breeds in southern Europe, north-west Africa, and across the Palearctic from Turkey and southern Russia to Mongolia. Most of the population migrates to Africa, south of the Sahara and India, for the winter. After the breeding season they form large flocks before they migrate south.

There are eight recognized subspecies.

It is a common bird of dry open country and cultivated land. It nests on the ground, laying two to three eggs. It’s beautiful song can be heard both during the day time and also at night. It can mimic other bird’s calls, especially waders.

The Mediterranean subspecies, prefers drier habitats. In the Maltese Islands it breeds in cultivated fields, open areas such as airfields and also garigue areas. The number of breeding birds dwindled in the past decades, especially from the central and northern parts of Malta. The strongholds remain the islands of Gozo and Comino, and the south of Malta.

Its diet consists of seeds and insects. The latter becomes an important source during the breeding season.

I took all the photos in this feature on the island of Gozo.