Photo: Andrej Chudy / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Crested Lark
Galerida cristata
Crested Lark (Galerida cristata) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 14 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Crested Lark (Galerida cristata) is a member of the Alaudidae family found in Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 42.7 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Alaudidae Larks
- Genus Galerida
- Species cristata
Quick facts
- Weight
- 42.7 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Alaudidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Crested Lark is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Crested Lark is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Crested Lark (Galerida cristata) belongs to the Alaudidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL, AF widespread.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 42.7 g, with a wing length of about 10.3 cm and a tail of around 6.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 24.4 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Crested Lark?
The Crested Lark is a small bird that weighs around 42.7 g.
Where does the Crested Lark live?
The Crested Lark is found across Africa and Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL, AF widespread, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Crested Lark belong to?
The Crested Lark (Galerida cristata) belongs to the Alaudidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Crested Lark eat?
The Crested Lark is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Crested Lark migrate?
The Crested Lark is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Crested Lark endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Crested Lark make?
1 real field recording of the Crested Lark — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Crested Lark's range?
The Crested Lark has a mapped global range of about 24.4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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