Greater Short-toed Lark

This species has many geographics and individual variations among the different populations. Approximately the size of a sparrow, it is the smallest lark from Europe. The upperparts of the adult in the nominate subspecies are sandy in color, with dark brown streaks on the mantle and barring of the same color on the coverts. The remiges are brown, while the tertials almost cover the primaries, distinguishing it from the Calandrella rufescens or Greater Short-toed Lark. The crown is grayish-brown and distinctly striated, and it lacks a crest but the crown feathers may be swollen when excited. The dark eyes as if wearing large pale frames (ringed with rusty white and wide eyebrows of the same color). A dark spot marks the lore and the beige parotids are bordered by brown behind. The pinkish or yellowish bill is rather long, conical, with a slightly convex culmen and grayish.
The underside is very pale and uniform. On the base of the neck of each side, there is usually a blackish spot. In some individuals, the spot is indiscernible or only small streaks appear only on the sides of the upper chest, distinguishing it from the Greater Short-toed Lark, which has chest completely striped.
The juvenile is easily distinguished by its scaly upperparts, and there may be some streaks on its chest. Some individuals from the Spanish and North African populations are more reddish-looking with finer stripes.