About Melanocorypha leucoptera (Pallas, 1811)
This species, the white-winged lark, is a large, robust lark that has distinctive flashing white wing patches. Adults typically measure 17–19 cm in length, with a wingspan of 35 cm. Both sexes have an average weight of about 44 g. In flight, it can be easily recognized by its striking wing pattern: outer flight feathers are black, inner flight feathers are white, and the remaining parts of the wing are chestnut. The upperparts of the body are dark-streaked grey, while the underparts are whitish. Adult males have a chestnut crown, and the two sexes are similar in appearance in all other traits. This lark inhabits dry, open steppe and plains. It nests on the ground, and lays a clutch of three to eight eggs. Its diet is made up primarily of seeds, and it also eats insects during the breeding season. It is gregarious during the winter months.
