Asian Short-toed Lark
Alaudala cheleensis
短趾百灵
Introduction
Passerine bird in family Alaudidae. Range extends across south-central to eastern Asia. Inhabits steppes, semi-deserts, arid grasslands, saline areas, and coastal marshes. Forages on ground for seeds and insects. First described by Robert Swinhoe in 1871. Part of a species complex within genus Alaudala, with taxonomic relationships under ongoing research.
Description
A small, compact lark with streaked upperparts and pale underparts. As its name suggests, it possesses notably short toes compared to other lark species. The plumage is typically sandy-brown to greyish, providing effective camouflage in its arid habitat. The bill is relatively short and conical, adapted for seed-eating.
Identification
Similar in appearance to the lesser short-toed lark and Mediterranean short-toed lark, making positive identification challenging. Distinguished from the lesser short-toed lark by vocalizations and subtle plumage differences, though these can be difficult to discern in the field. Genetic studies indicate that neither the Asian short-toed lark nor the lesser short-toed lark as currently defined form natural groups, complicating identification based solely on morphology.
Distribution & Habitat
Occurs across south-central to eastern Asia, with six recognized subspecies occupying different geographic areas. Found from Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan in the west, through Mongolia and southern Russia, to north-eastern and north-western China. Inhabits arid steppes, semi-deserts, grasslands, and saline coastal areas depending on the subspecies.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Alaudidae
- Genus
- Alaudala
- eBird Code
- lstlar2
Subspecies (4)
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Alaudala cheleensis cheleensis
breeds northern Qinghai and northern Gansu through northern Mongolia, and northeastern China (central and eastern Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Hebei, Beijing, Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang) and adjacent parts of southern Siberia; the Mongolian populations are largely migratory, although they probably winter within the range of the subspecies
-
Alaudala cheleensis leucophaea
apparently mainly resident in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan (south of the Kyzylkum Desert), and western and southern Kazakhstan, eastward to Lake Balkhash and the Fergana Basin
-
Alaudala cheleensis seebohmi
northwestern China (Xinjiang) and adjacent Mongolia
-
Alaudala cheleensis tuvinica
southern Siberia (Tuva Republic) and northwestern Mongolia
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.