Pikkukiuru / Lesser Short-toed Lark / Calandrella rufescens

1. Southern Kazakstan

Calls, recorded 6 July 2005 near Kolshengel, Taukum Desert, Almaty oblasti, Kazakstan. Two different types of call alternating

Two photos of a juvenile bird, taken 8 July 2005 at Karaoy, Taukum Desert, Kazakstan

2. Kyrgyzstan

Calls, recorded 18 July 2005 at "Salt Lake", just south of Issyk-Kul, west of Tamga, Kyrgyzstan, altitude 1600 m. Many of our group commented that these sounded somewhat different than the calls we heard earlier in Southern Kazakstan. In fact, the greatest difference seems to be that the call is the same the whole time, repetitions of similar note.

Four photos of an adult bird, taken at the same place, same time and from the same group of birds as the recording above.

3. Eastern China

For comparison, here's calls and song plus one photo of easternmost populations of Lesser Short-toed Lark Calandrella (rufescens) cheleensis.

Calls and song, Happy Island, Hebei, China, May 2002