About Galerida malabarica (Scopoli, 1786)
This is a smallish lark, slightly smaller than the Eurasian skylark. It has a long, spiky erectile crest. It is greyer than the Eurasian skylark, and lacks the white wing and tail edges that the Eurasian skylark has; the Eurasian skylark is a winter visitor to India. It is very similar to the crested lark, which breeds in northern India. The Malabar lark is smaller, with dark-streaked reddish brown plumage, while the crested lark is grey. The Malabar lark's belly is white, and the two sexes are similar in appearance. Sykes's lark, another Indian relative of the Malabar lark, also has reddish-brown plumage. However, Sykes's lark is smaller, shorter-billed, has a stiff upright crest, and has plain rufous underparts. The Malabar lark is found in western India. It is a common bird that inhabits open country, cultivation, and scrub, often at some altitude. The Malabar lark is a sedentary breeding bird that nests on the ground, laying two or three eggs. It feeds on seeds and insects; insects make up a particularly large part of its diet during the breeding season.
