View source for White-winged lark

{{Taxobox
| image = Melanocorypha leucoptera2.jpg
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{IUCN|id=22717298 |title=''Melanocorypha leucoptera'' |assessor=BirdLife International |assessor-link=BirdLife International |version=2013.2 |year=2012 |accessdate=26 November 2013}}</ref>
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[bird|Aves]]
| ordo = [[Passeriformes]]
| familia = [[Alaudidae]]
| genus = ''[[Alauda]]''
| species = '''''A. leucoptera'''''
| binomial = ''Alauda leucoptera''
| binomial_authority = [[Peter Simon Pallas|Pallas]], 1811
| synonyms = * ''Melanocorypha leucoptera''
* ''Melanocorypha sibirica''
}}

The '''white-winged lark''' (''Alauda leucoptera'') is a species of [[lark]] found from southern Ukraine through Kazakhstan to south-central Russia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/larks/|title=Nicators, reedling & larks « IOC World Bird List|website=www.worldbirdnames.org|access-date=2016-12-04}}</ref> It is partially [[bird migration|migratory]], with birds tending to move south in winter. The southernmost birds are mainly resident. It is a very rare vagrant to western Europe.

==Taxonomy and systematics==
The current genus name is from the Latin for lark. The specific ''leucoptera'' means "white-winged", from ''leukos'', "white", and ''pteron'', "wing".<ref name=job>{{cite book | last= Jobling | first= James A | year= 2010| title= The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names | publisher= Christopher Helm | location = London | isbn = 978-1-4081-2501-4 | pages = 225, 247}}</ref> Formerly, the white-winged lark was classified as belonging to the genus ''[[Melanocorypha]]'' until moved to ''Alauda'' in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldbirdnames.org/updates/archives-4-1-to-4-4/taxonomy-4-1-to-4-4/|title=Taxonomy 4.1 to 4.4 « IOC World Bird List|website=www.worldbirdnames.org|access-date=2016-12-04}}</ref>

==Description==
This lark is large and robust, usually 17–19&nbsp;cm in length, with a wingspan of 35&nbsp;cm. Both sexes weigh about 44&nbsp;g. In flight, it is unmistakable due to its striking wing pattern: black outer flight feathers, white inner flight feathers, and the rest of the wing chestnut. Its body is dark-streaked grey above and whitish below. The adult male has a chestnut crown, but the sexes are otherwise similar.

===Vocalisations===
Its song is a more melodious version of the [[Eurasian skylark]]'s.

==Behaviour and ecology==
The white-winged lark lives in dry, open [[steppe]] and [[plain]]s. It nests on the ground, laying three to eight [[bird egg|eggs]] per clutch. Its diet consists of [[seed predation|seeds]], and insects during the breeding season. It is gregarious during the winter.

===Threats===
[[Habitat destruction]] due to ploughing is one of the main threats to the white-winged lark.

==Status==
Although its population has declined significantly, it is still relatively common, and is not considered to be at risk.<ref name=IUCN/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob9650.htm BirdFacts] - British Trust for Ornithology

{{taxonbar}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:lark, white-winged}}
[[Category:Alauda|white-winged lark]]
[[Category:Birds of Europe]]
[[Category:Birds of Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Eurasian migratory birds]]
[[Category:Birds described in 1811|white-winged lark]]