White-winged Lark
Alauda leucoptera Pallas, 1811
Photo © By Francesco Veronesi from Italy - White-winged Lark - Kazakistan_S4E0496, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39959857
STATUS
Eurasia. Monotypic.
OVERVIEW
B. A. E. Marr & R. H. Porter (1995) carried out a review of previous occurrences and found them all not proven, apart from one in Norfolk 1981 (British Birds 88: 365-371).
NOT PROVEN
0). 1869 Sussex Near Brighton, female, caught, 22nd November, now at Booth Museum, Brighton (BoMNH 208047).
(F. Bond, Zoologist 1870: 1984, 2022; G. D. Rowley, Zoologist 1870: 2066; Anon., Proceedings of the Zoological Society 1870: 52-53; Yarrell, 1871-85; BOU, 1883; Borrer, 1891; H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 1: 256; Witherby, 1920-24; Walpole-Bond, 1938; Shrubb, 1979; A. Marr & R. Porter, British Birds 88: 365-371; James, 1996).
[BOURC (2018), Ibis 160: 938; A. H. J. Harrop, British Birds 112: 89-98].
History Frederick Bond of South Hampstead, London (1869) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. IV. p. 1984, dated 15th December, 1869, says: 'I saw two other birds, one I believe to be a young Snow Finch Fringilla nivalis, and the other a young male of the Rustic Bunting. I saw both of these birds very shortly after their capture, and am quite sure of them being truly wild birds. I hope to send you shortly more particulars of these two birds.'
Frederick Bond of South Hampstead, London (1870) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. V. p. 2022, undated, adds: 'I have now, through the kindness of Mr. Swaysland, of Brighton, the two birds concerning which I promised, in my last communication (s.s. 1984), to give you more particulars. The one I believed might be a young Snow Finch is a specimen of the Siberian Lark (Alauda sibirica), the first that has been recorded as occurring in Britain, and a very interesting addition to our list, as it is very rare even as a European species.'
George Dawson Rowley of Brighton (1870) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. V. p. 2066, dated January 1870, adds: 'By the kindness of Mr. Swaysland I had the pleasure of examining the bird mentioned in the Zoologist (s.s. 1984) by Mr. Bond, under the name of the Snow Finch (Fringilla nivalis). The specimen in question is certainly not of that species, but appears to me to belong to the Alauda sibirica of Gmelin, the Alauda leucoptera of Pallas, and in this opinion Mr. Alfred Newton, who was with me, concurs.'
Anon. (1870) in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society, pp. 52-53, at the meeting held on 27th January 1870, says: 'Mr. G. Dawson Rowley, F.Z.S., exhibited, and made the following remarks upon, a specimen of the Siberian Lark (Alauda sibirica, Gmelin) and other rare British birds: "I have the pleasure to exhibit to the Society a specimen of the Siberian Lark (Alauda sibirica, Gmelin; the Alauda leucoptera of Pallas). It was caught near Brighton, November 22, 1869, out of a flock of about two dozen of Emberiza nivalis, and is a female. This is, as far as I know, the first of this species ever captured in Great Britain. I also place before the Meeting a Wild Canary (Fringilla canariensis), taken in a clap-net November 20, 1869. How such a bird arrived in this country I cannot say. The third bird which I have to show is a Lapland Bunting (Emberiza calcarata)". These three birds are recorded in the January number of the Zoologist this year as Fringilla nivalis, Emberiza rustica, and Fringilla citrinella. With the aid of Professor Newton, when we saw the Lark on the 1st of January, I assigned to it its true designation. Various Northern species have lately occurred at Brighton, in addition to Alauda sibirica, such as Emberiza pusilla, Emberiza rustica, Turdus atrigularis, and Pyrrhula erythrina, all of them of considerable interest.'
Alfred Newton (1871-74 (1): 642-643, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'Mr. Rowley was the first to recognize in a Lark netted near Brighton, November 22nd, 1869, and shown to him while alive on that day by Mr. Swaysland, an example of this rare species [White-winged Lark], which has seldom visited Western Europe. At a meeting of the Zoological Society, January 27th, 1870, Mr. Rowley exhibited this specimen, stating that it was a hen bird, and when caught was associating with a flock of about two dozen Snow Buntings (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1870, pp. 52, 53). The specimen is now in Mr. Monk's collection and up to the present time is the only one known to have occurred in Britain.'
Admitted nationally in their first List of British Birds (BOU 1883: 73).
Admitted by H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst (1908) in British Birds, Vol. I. p. 256, under 'On the More Important Additions to our Knowledge of British Birds since 1899,' who say: 'This eastern species has only once previously been recorded in this country, viz., near Brighton, Sussex, on 22nd November, 1869.'
Accepted locally (Borrer 1891: 113; Walpole-Bond 1938 (1): 177) and James (1996) who adds: '...the bird is in the Booth Museum, Brighton.'
B. A. E. Marr & R. H. Porter (1995) in British Birds, Vol. LXXXVIII. pp. 367-368, say: 'The specimen, a female, is now in the Booth Museum of Natural History in Brighton (plate 101). It was taken alive in a net near Brighton, East Sussex, on 22nd November 1869, and reported by Mr. Frederick Bond of South Hampstead, London, who saw it very shortly after capture and was quite sure that it was 'truly wild'. He first thought that it was 'a young snow finch Montifringilla nivalis' (Bond 1870a), correcting the identification the following month (Bond 1870b; see also Rowley 1870). The specimen was promptly acquired by Mr. Thomas Monk of Lewes, East Sussex, and, after his death, obtained for the Booth Museum. Interestingly, the lark was caught 'in the company of a flock of about two dozen Snow Buntings...one of which it was at first considered to be.'
Although the specimen is faded, the photographs show the comparatively long, dark-brown primaries, edged white on the outer webs and tipped with buffish, and the white panel in the closed wing, formed by the secondaries. The bill is yellow, but this is presumed to have been an error when preparing the specimen. The identification of the specimen was accepted by the Committee and the bird was considered to have been of natural origin. There was a vigorous trade in wild birds, particularly Sky Larks, caught on the Brighton Downs in the late nineteenth century and these were sold in local markets and shops. There are records from the Brighton area in the 1860s of Crested Lark Galerida cristata in October 1863; Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla in November 1864; Rustic Bunting E. rustica in October 1867; Dark-throated Thrush Turdus ruficollis in December 1868; and Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus in the last week of September 1869. With most of these birds, the timing is consistent with modern records.'
Comment Swaysland has been discredited (A. H. J. Harrop, British Birds 112: 89-98). Not acceptable.
0). 1888 Greater London Near London, male, obtained, 24th November, now at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery (Acc. No. 1962Z10.122).
(Watson, 2010).
[KAN].
History Watson (2010) in detailing the J. L. Auden collection in the Birmingham Museum lists a male specimen that was caught near London, on 24th November 1888 and kept alive in a cage for about three months, adding that it was bought at the sale of Sir V. H. Crewe's collection.
Comment Crewe's specimens have been questioned before over their provenance and this record has come to light 122 years after the event leaving it open to doubt. Not acceptable.
0). 1902 Kent Woodchurch, three: male, shot, 27th January; female, shot, 28th January; male, shot, 22nd March.
(R. Bowdler Sharpe, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 12: 50; R. Bowdler Sharpe, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 13: 14-15; H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 1: 256; Ticehurst, 1909).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History R. Bowdler Sharpe, Editor (1902) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XII. p. 50, at the 85th Meeting of the Club held on 19th February 1902 at the Restaurant Frascati, London, says: 'Mr. N. F. Ticehurst exhibited a pair (male and female) of the White-winged Lark (Melanocorypha sibirica), sent for exhibition by Mr. George Bristow, of St. Leonards-on-Sea. The birds had been shot by a man named Ward at Woodchurch, in Kent - the female on January 28th and the male on January 27th; a third individual was seen, but not procured. These were the first records of this bird for the county of Kent, and only one previous example is known from the British Isles, viz. a bird caught alive on Nov. 22nd, 1869, near Brighton, and exhibited at a meeting of the Zoological Society of London.'
R. Bowdler Sharpe, Editor (1902) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XIII. pp. 14-15, at the 90th Meeting of the Club held on 22nd October 1902 at the Restaurant Frascati, London, says: 'Mr. N. F. Ticehurst exhibited a male White-winged Lark (Alauda sibirica). This was the third of the birds mentioned in the Bulletin, XII. p. 50, as having been with the pair that were shot at Woodchurch, in Kent, on January 27th and 28th, 1902. It was constantly seen there, but being very wild, was not obtained until March 22nd, 1902. It differed from the male previously recorded in being brighter on the head and wing-coverts, and in having much more white on the throat and breast.'
Admitted by H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst (1908) in British Birds, Vol. I. p. 256, under 'On the More Important Additions to our Knowledge of British Birds since 1899'.
Ticehurst (1909: 221) says: '... All three passed through Mr. Bristow's hands, and to his kindness I was indebted for the opportunity of examining them....'
Comment Hastings rarities. Not acceptable.
0). 1907 Sussex Pevensey Sluice, male, shot, 30th December.
(W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 21: 51; J. B. Nichols, British Birds 1: 357; Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Editor (1908) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XXI. pp. 51-52, at the 139th Meeting of the Club held on 19th February 1908 at the Restaurant Frascati, London, says: 'Mr. Ruskin Butterfield, on behalf of Mr. J. B. Nichols, exhibited a male and female White-winged Lark (Melanocorypha sibirica, Gmel.), from Pevensey Sluice, Sussex. The male was shot on the 30th of December, 1907, and the female on the 1st of January, 1908. Both specimens were examined by the exhibitor in the flesh.... The specimens exhibited were in the collection of Mr. J. B. Nichols.'
J. B. Nichols (1908) in British Birds, Vol. I. p. 357, says: 'On December 30th, 1907, a male, and on January 1st, 1908, a female White-winged Lark (Melanocorypha sibirica) were shot at Pevensey Sluice, Sussex. Both specimens are now in my collection. They were examined in the flesh by Mr. W. R. Butterfield, who exhibited them at the meeting of the British Ornithologists Club, held on February 19th last. A photograph of the male bird is here reproduced. For particulars of the four previous occurrences of this species in England, I may refer the readers of British Birds to page 256 above, while an excellent account of its normal distribution is given in Saunders' Manual.'
Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (1): 177).
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1908 Sussex Pevensey Sluice, female, shot, 1st January.
(W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 21: 51; J. B. Nichols, British Birds 1: 357; Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Editor (1908) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XXI. pp. 51-52, at the 139th Meeting of the Club held on 19th February 1908 at the Restaurant Frascati, London, says: 'Mr. Ruskin Butterfield, on behalf of Mr. J. B. Nichols, exhibited a male and female White-winged Lark (Melanocorypha sibirica, Gmel.), from Pevensey Sluice, Sussex. The male was shot on the 30th of December, 1907, and the female on the 1st of January, 1908. Both specimens were examined by the exhibitor in the flesh....The specimens exhibited were in the collection of Mr. J. B. Nichols.'
J. B. Nichols (1908) in British Birds, Vol. I. p. 357, says: 'On December 30th, 1907, a male, and on January 1st, 1908, a female White-winged Lark (Melanocorypha sibirica) were shot at Pevensey Sluice, Sussex. Both specimens are now in my collection. They were examined in the flesh by Mr. W. R. Butterfield, who exhibited them at the meeting of the British Ornithologists Club, held on February 19th last. A photograph of the male bird is here reproduced. For particulars of the four previous occurrences of this species in England, I may refer the readers of British Birds to page 256 above, while an excellent account of its normal distribution is given in Saunders' Manual.'
Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (1): 177).
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1915 Sussex Near Rye, seen, 3rd November.
(M. L. Kleinwort, British Birds 9: 209; W. Ruskin Butterfield, Hastings & East Sussex Naturalist 2: 196; Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[BOU, 1971].
History M. L. Kleinwort (1916) in British Birds, Vol. IX. p. 209, says: 'On November 3rd, 1915, I saw, near Rye, a White-winged Lark (Melanocorypha sibirica) in winter-plumage, apparently a male. It was feeding in company with some Skylarks and I had the bird under close observation for twenty minutes. I was able to watch it from a distance of not more than six yards, and had an excellent view of it both flying and on the ground. The chestnut tint on the crown, the lesser wing-coverts and tail, white wing-bar and white under wing-coverts were very distinctive. The back was tawny brown, the centres of the feathers being of a darker shade, the throat and breast were tinged with buff and there were indistinct rufous-brown spots on the throat, gorget and flanks. The rest of the under-parts were white. The bill was short, stout, and horn-coloured; the legs were yellowish brown.'
[We congratulate Miss Kleinwort on her accurate and detailed description of the bird. This is the seventh example of the White-winged Lark recorded for the British Islands, all in Sussex and Kent. - Eds.]
Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (1): 177).
Comment Not acceptable.
0). 1915 Sussex Rye, shot, 10th November.
(Haslemere Museum).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees (1962) in British Birds, Vol. LV. p. 362, list this record as recorded by the Haslemere Museum per E.M.N.
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1916 Sussex Winchelsea, four: male, shot, 30th March, male and female, shot, 31st March, male, shot, 2nd April, all now at the Booth Museum, Brighton.
(J. B. Nichols, British Birds 12: 159; Anon., Hastings & East Sussex Naturalist 3: 2; Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History J. B. Nichols (1918) in British Birds, Vol. XII. p. 159, says: 'Four White-winged Larks (Melanocorypha sibirica) were shot at Winchelsea, Sussex, in 1916: a male on March 30th, a male and female on March 31st, and a male on April 2nd. These birds are now in my collection. The first three were examined in the flesh by Mr. W. Ruskin Butterfield and the last by Mr. H. W. Ford-Lindsay. Six specimens have previously been obtained and one seen in Sussex or Kent.'
[The above specimens passed into Mr. Nichols' possession shortly after they were shot, and were mentioned by him in a letter received by us early in July 1918, but we delayed the publication of the record till we had an opportunity of inspecting the birds. - Eds.]
Accepted locally by Walpole-Bond (1938 (1): 177-178) who stated that they are all in the Booth Museum, Brighton.
Comment Hastings rarities. Not acceptable.
0). 1917 Sussex Hove, three, 15th November.
(Walpole-Bond, 1938; Shrubb, 1979; A. Marr & R. Porter, British Birds 88: 365-371).
[B. A. E. Marr & R. H. Porter, British Birds 88: 365-371].
History Walpole-Bond (1938 (1): 178) says: 'Then during the afternoon of November 15th, 1917, I myself identified, afterwards observing for some time at very close quarters, often but a few yards separating watcher and watched, three White-winged Larks on the upper part of the beach just below the front at West Hove. At close range the hall-marks, so to speak, of the species were very noticeable, to wit, the distinct chestnut of the primary coverts and lesser wing-coverts and the snowiness of the secondaries. Two of the birds by the rusty-red of their crowns were at once marked as males; the third individual-the one with the dark brown head-was just as obviously a lady.'
B. A. E. Marr & R. H. Porter (1995) in British Birds, Vol. LXXXVIII. pp. 368-369, say: 'These birds were seen by John Walpole-Bond 'for some time at very close quarters...on the upper part of the beach just below the front at West Hove.' The description in his A History of Sussex Birds (1938) states that 'the hall marks, so to speak, of the species were very noticeable, to wit, the distinct chestnut of the primary-coverts and lesser wing-coverts and the snowiness of the secondaries. Two of the birds by the rusty-red of their crowns were at once marked as males; the third individual - the one with the dark brown head - was just as obviously a lady.'
The chestnut wing-coverts would appear to rule out Snow Bunting; there is, however, no description of size, structure, bare parts or behaviour. It would have been more believable if the birds had been Snow Buntings and the habitat would have been more likely - the upper part of the beach at West Hove is pure shingle.
There are two unexplained aspects of this record. First, it remained unpublished until 1938. Secondly, it is not amongst the records listed by Witherby et al. in the Handbook of British Birds, Vol. I. (1941). Perhaps the authors did not believe the record? The record is inadequately described and the habitat and number of birds are unlikely. The Committee was unable to recommend the continued acceptance of the record.'
0). 1933 Sussex Near Camber, Rye, seen, 19th August.
(P. Allen, British Birds 27: 163; Walpole-Bond, 1938; Shrubb, 1979; A. Marr & R. Porter, British Birds 88: 365-371).
[B. A. E. Marr & R. H. Porter, British Birds 88: 365-371].
History P. Allen (1933) in British Birds, Vol. XXVII. p. 163, says: 'On the evening of August 19th, 1933, while bicycling along the road from Rye to Camber that runs alongside the golf links, I saw a strange bird standing sentinel-like on a hump on the thin, brown turf. On dismounting it allowed me to approach within five yards of it and examine it at my leisure. When first seen it was standing facing three-quarters away from me, but afterwards turned and gave me an almost full view from in front. My description of it written down at the time was: "Size, that of a rather large Sky-Lark; the most striking feature was that its shoulders and crown were a bright, rusty red, the shoulders being brightest. The upper parts light brown, lined with black and with more rust colour just at the base of the tail. Another prominent feature was a bar of pure white on each wing. Underneath, dull white, looking darker towards the throat and lower throat. The flanks were apparently streaked with black. Eyebrows, dirty white". When I had finished writing I moved to put my note-book away and it flew off silently, giving me the impression as it flew of a patch of white on the under surface of the wings. On comparing my notes with the printed descriptions there does not seem to be much doubt that the bird must have been a White-winged Lark (Melanocorypha leucoptera).' Admitted locally by Walpole-Bond (1938) Vol. I. p. 178.
B. A. E. Marr & R. H. Porter (1995) in British Birds, Vol. LXXXVIII. p. 369, say: 'This record was described by Allen (1933), who was 'bicycling along the road from Rye to Camber that runs alongside the golf links' and 'saw a strange bird standing sentinel-like on a hump on the thin, brown turf.' He stated that 'the most striking feature was that its shoulders and crown were a bright, rusty red, the shoulders being brightest.' 'Another prominent feature was a bar of pure white on each wing.' It flew off silently, 'giving me the impression as it flew of a patch of white on the under surface of the wings.' It was the size of 'a rather large Skylark.'
Although he wrote down the description in a notebook at the time, the description is vague in places, rather too colourful in others and not at all convincing. Some members of the BOURC were not certain that it was even a lark. Walpole-Bond (1938) considered 19th August to be 'an extraordinarily early date for this species to be in this country'.
The BOURC unanimously decided that, for such a rare species, this record could not now be upheld.'
0). 1940 Hertfordshire Great Gaddeston, seen, 20th April.
(W. Murray Marsden, Field 8th Jun., 1940: 897).
[Sage, 1959].
History W. Murray Marsden of Lorimer, Merrow, Guildford (1940) in The Field of 8th Jun., Vol. CLXXV. p. 897, says: 'On April 20th, 1940, at the foot of Great Gaddesden village, soon after midday, having been watching with glasses a couple of Swallows skimming the sheet of water above the b ridge there, I heard from a field of old stubble across the road a bird-call which was quite strange to me. In the rough growth the bird was rather hard to locate, but I got it at last, standing with its head up, uttering the note, some 30 yds. into the field. With glasses I "made" it a lark or large pipit, of some sort. The note was a single, piping, rather jerky one, not the least like anything I had ever heard from any lark or pipit known to me - more "like that of a small wader", was a thought that occurred to me. The bird was not shy and I had glasses on to it at about 20yds.
For some time it was rather difficult to get a clear view in the rough stubble and grass. It was a bird of about Skylark size with similar movements on the ground, but the general colour of most of the upper parts was much browner than in the case of a Skylark, being almost dark chestnut, varied in tones.
I decided to risk putting it up, and di so; having already noticed that though there were one or two Skylarks "up", there seemed no communication by voice between them and the bird I was watching. It flew low, in a leisurely way, much as a Skylark may, for some 20-30yds., before alighting again in similar rough ground. As it flew, I noticed that the secondary feathers of both wings were white - a faintly creamy rather than a "dead" white; this being also the colour of the outer tail-feathers. To make sure about this, I put the bird up again, and found that the "panels" of white in the wings were regular and unifrom. Further attention to the bird on the (still rough and partly obscuring) ground showed that the "crest" on the dark-brown head was rather short and inconspicuous - differing in this from a Skylark. I was watching the bird under the conditions described, for at least 10 minutes. It did not utter the note again after it became aware that I was interested in it; but it was not worrying about me unless I pressed it, seeming more concerned to find food and, I thought, failing rather to do so.
This bird, as I left it, had completely flummoxed me. The nearest I could get was "very strangely coloured Skylark, with limited and unifrom white feathers in the secondaries - and, above all, with a most abnormal call-note". It was this - the note - that drew my attention; a note that I had never heard before. Reference (two days later) to the "Larks" in the new Handbook of British Birds has shown me that the plate and description there of the "White-winged Lark" agrees with what I saw very closely indeed. There seems to be nothing recorded in H.B.B. about any call-note of that bird. I have studied birds and least their cries and songs for over 50 years. Before I had heard and seen the bird now described, I suppose I must have just read (at some time or other) that such a bird as the White-winged Lark existed; but while observing it no memory of such a bird entered my mind, and I was, as I have said, flummoxed. Now, considering my observation from unknown call-note, through the observations of the bird at rest, to those of the bird in flight, it seems to me that, so far as a "field" observation could go under the conditions of visibility ruling, the bird was, not a "freak" Skylark, but a White-winged Lark - probably rather a female or young male than a fully adult male.'
P.S. - Personally, as you, Mr. Editor, will understand, I rely very largely on the note, to which I reacted at once as being something that called for immediate inquiry. The inquiry revealed the other features. - W.M.M.
[The White-winged Lark is mainly a Russian bird, occurring from the South Russian Steppes through Transcaspia and Turkestan to Siberia. On autumn migration it occurs in south-east Europe and as far west as Belgium. There have been twelve occurrences in England: ten for Sussex and two for Kent, the latest being one for August 19th, 1933, at Rye, Sussex. Most of the other records are for winter months. - Ed.]
Sage (1959) says: 'Mayor W. Murray Marsden (The Field 174: 897) described a lark seen in a stubble field at Great Gaddesden on 20th April, 1940, which he considered was of this species. His description is, however, unsatisfactory on a number of points and the record was generally considered unacceptable.'
0). 1944 Cheshire & Wirral Thelwall Eye, seen, 26th February.
(A. W. Boyd, Lancashire & Cheshire Fauna Committee Report 1950: 20).
[A. W. Boyd, Lancashire & Cheshire Fauna Committee Report 1950: 20].
History A. W. Boyd (1950) in the Lancashire & Cheshire Fauna Committee 29th Report, p. 20, recording the record in square brackets, says: 'Cheshire. 1944. 26th Feb. E.L.A. got close views of a bird at Thelwall Eye which was most probably this species. Careful notes of its plumage were made and it is difficult to suggest it could belong to any other species.'
0). 1955 Greater London/Hertfordshire Hilfield Park Reservoir, 12th to 17th August.
(B. L. Sage & A. R. Jenkins, British Birds 49: 41-42; Sage, 1959; Gladwin & Sage, 1986; A. Marr & R. Porter, British Birds 88: 365-371).
[B. A. E. Marr & R. H. Porter, British Birds 88: 365-371].
History B. L. Sage & A. R. Jenkins (1956) in British Birds, Vol. XLIX. pp. 41-42, say: 'At 19.30 hours on 12th August 1955, following a period of north-easterly winds, a bird which was subsequently identified as an adult female White-winged Lark (Melanocorypha leucoptera), was seen by B.L.S. at the new Hilfield Park Reservoir, Hertfordshire. On the 13th and 14th it was watched by both of us and the following account is based on our joint field-notes. The bird remained in the area until the 17th during which period it was seen by various other observers including F. H. Jones and H, p. Medhurst. As the field-characters given in The Handbook (Vol. I. p. 163) are rather scanty we give below full details of appearance and behaviour.
In flight it appeared at first sight much like a Skylark (Alauda arvensis) with a lot of white on the wings. It was generally flushed by itself, but on one occasion when it was put up in company with six Skylarks comparison showed it to be about the same size, though much heavier-looking; the wing length of the two species appeared about the same, but the tail of the rarer bird was shorter and square cut, though not as short as that of the Woodlark (Lullula arborea). The flight was identical with that of the Skylark, and on several occasions it glided down in a similar manner with the wings held rigid and slightly turned down at the tips, and the tail cocked just above the level of the back. On the wing the large white patch on the secondaries, the white outer web of the second primary (i.e. the leading edge of the wing) and the white outer rectrices were all very prominent. Viewed from below, or when banking over, the white under wing-coverts were also noticeable.
During five hours' observation B.L.S. was able to obtain two good views of the bird on the ground, on each occasion at a range of about 25 yards. The upper-parts were dark brown, much darker than those of a Skylark, though the pale edges to all the body-feathers gave a distinctly mottled appearance. On the closed wings, which were held slightly drooping, the white area on the secondaries and the white outer web of the second primary were both very prominent; the tips of the primaries were darker brown and there was a slight chestnut tinge on the lesser wing-coverts. Under-parts were greyish-white, throat pure white; breast streaked with dark brown fairly densely at the sides and more sparsely towards the centre; flanks streaked dark sandy brown. Cheeks and superciliary stripe whitish-yellow, lores and ear-coverts brownish with a dark streak running from the ear-coverts below the eye. Bill dark brownish-yellow, short and stout like a finch. Legs not seen clearly. No sign of a crest. The call note which was heard once or twice was very similar to, but distinguishable from, that of the Skylark.
This bird showed a preference for a fairly restricted area of bare soil with short, sparse vegetation, but it often went to ground in very thick grass where it would stay until almost trodden on. Generally speaking it was a very shy bird intolerant of observation on the ground, and showed a strong dislike of being away from cover. On the few occasions when it landed on bare soil it would stand very upright for a moment and then run very rapidly, like a wader, for the nearest tuft of grass where it would crouch down until flushed again. R. Meinertzhagen ("Review of the Alaudidae", Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., Vol. CXXI. p. 86) mentions this habit of squatting in cover.
This is the first authentic record of this species in Hertfordshire and the 13th for the British Isles. Major W. Murray Marsden (The Field, Vol. CLXXIV. p. 897) reported a supposed White-winged Lark at Great Gaddesden, Hertfordshire, on 20th April 1940, but the record was rejected.'
B. A. E. Marr & R. H. Porter (1995) in British Birds, Vol. LXXXVIII. pp. 369-370, say: 'The circumstances of this record were fully described by Sage & Jenkins (1956).
The bird was found by B. L. Sage; watched by him and A. R. Jenkins on 13th and 14th; and subsequently by various other observers, including F. H. Jones and H, p. Medhurst, until 17th. It was considered to be an adult female.
The BBRC studied the description in the course of assessing the 1981 Norfolk record, and concluded that the record should be reviewed by the BOURC. BBRC members with experience of White-winged Lark on its breeding grounds considered that the description of the Hertfordshire bird did not exclude the possibility of a partially albinistic Sky Lark.
Certain features supported the identification as a White-winged Lark:
1. Shorter tail and bulkier body than Sky Lark.
2. The wing pattern, with large white patch on secondaries, white underwing, chestnut on lesser coverts and pale outer web to 2nd imary (although this last feature, which is obvious on skins, is not usually noticeable in the field).
3. Lack of a crest.
4. Wings held slightly drooped.
Apparently against the identification as a White-winged Lark were:
1. The one reference to wing shape at rest or in flight suggests a Sky Lark-like shape and appearance, apart from the white secondaries. White-winged Lark, as described earlier, has a very distinctive long-winged appearance, both in flight, when it immediately attracts comment, and on the ground.
2. The white 'wing-bar' is not clearly described. It is so striking in flight, and contrasts so much with the rest of the wing, that it usually evokes exclamation and comparisons with Redshank Tringa totanus and even Sabine's Gull.
3. There is no mention of the primary coverts, which should be tinged with rufous and are a diagnostic feature.
4. There is no mention of the hopping. This is a regular habit and produces a gait very unlike that typical of larks.
5. The underparts and face pattern as described do not tally with those of White-winged Lark.
6. The tail was cocked in flight just above the level of the back when it glided down in a manner similar to Sky Lark; White-winged Larks observed by those BBRC and BOURC members who have seen the species have not shown this feature.
On reading Iain Robertson's paper on the identification of White-winged Lark (Robertson 1986), one of the original observers, Howard Medhurst, contacted the BBRC. He wrote that he had been unhappy about the record for some years and now believed the bird to have been an aberrant Sky Lark. With the recent clarification of some of the identification criteria for White-winged Lark, the unexpected date and the withdrawal by one observer from support of the record, the Committee decided that the record could no longer be considered proven.'
