Crested Larks [1] ( lat. Galerida ) is a genus of passerine birds from the family of larks (Alaudidae) [2] . A distinctive feature of birds is a crest on the head of elongated feathers [3] . Distributed in Africa and Eurasia. Body length is 18 cm. Birds feed on weed seeds and insects, the latter especially during the breeding season.
As of February 2018, 7 species are included in the genus [2] [1] :
- Galerida cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) - Crested Lark , or Common Crested Lark ; widespread in Eurasia and Africa;
- Galerida deva (Sykes, 1832) - Syke's Crested Lark ; center of India ;
- Galerida macrorhyncha Tristram, 1859 [ syn. Galerida randonii ] - east of Morocco and north of Algeria ;
- Galerida magnirostris (Stephens, 1826) - Thick - billed crested lark ; South Africa: South Africa , Lesotho and Southeast Namibia ;
- Galerida malabarica (Scopoli, 1786) - Malabar Crested Lark ; West India
- Galerida modesta Heuglin, 1864 - Sun-crested Lark ; widespread in Africa;
- Galerida theklae AE Brehm, 1857 - Short-toed Crested Lark ; Iberian Peninsula , North and West Africa, from Western Sahara to Egypt and isolated in Ethiopia .
