Kava Kava (Piper methysticum)

Brief Description

This tall, leafy shrub of the South Pacific has been used for many centuries among the islands of Oceania as a social beverage for many different occasions. The infusion prepared from the rhizome or stem of the plant is still used in many social ceremonies to welcome visitors, commemorate marriages, births and deaths and to remove curses.

Polynesian Relaxant

The Journal of Ethnopharmacology reported that the pyrones in kava kava helped reduce anxiety and fatigue as well as relaxing twitching heart muscles and calming hysteria. Other researchers who've worked with kava kava have described its effect upon the the central nervous system as being "placidly tranquil."

They found that while this herb truly relaxed the rodents, yet in no way did it affect their overall mental or physical performances. Hence kava kava can be taken on a regular basis without interrupting one's ability to work.

In fact, it probably will help ease some of the stress that accompanies most jobs these days. The best brand of kava kava can be purchased in any health food store under the Nature's Way logo. An average of two capsules twice daily (late morning and late afternoon) on an empty stomach is recommended.

Kelp (Fucus vesiculosus)

Brief Description

The common name of kelp applies to a broad range of seaweeds of many different species. But for those using herbs a lot, kelp probably refers to seaweeds of the brown algal order Laminariales which possess large, flat, leaf-like fronds. A class of brown algae called bladderwrack is generally used the most often for producing kelp products.

Iodine Content Controls Obesity

Kelp has many medicinal uses and claims attributed to it. One of the more popular is in controlling obesity. This role is attributed to the plant's iodine content which is believed to stimulate the production of iodine-containing hormones that help keep you slim.

Doctors recognize that the thyroid gland is the body's own pace-setter, either having our cellular engines merely poke along or else race at breakneck speed. When thyroid activity moves at a snail's pace, fat isn't burned rapidly enough and, therefore, accumulates in the body. However, when the thyroid accelerates faster, fat disappears more quickly before it can form deposits in body tissue somewhere.

The recommended intake of kelp tablets or capsules under Nature's Way label from your local health food store for weight control is at least two per day with a meal. If you are on a sodium-restricted diet, you should monitor intake with care.

Great Seasoning

Kelp is an ideal substitute for table salt and black pepper and should be used wherever these The other two seasonings are called for. It's a much healthier way to go with far fewer problems than either of the others are known to cause.

Also Read: Harvesting Drying and Storage of Herbs / Spinach: How to Grow the World’s Healthiest Foods / Basil – It’s Not as Difficult as You Think

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Pomarine Skua (Stercorarius pomarinus)

Identification

Pomarine Jaeger is normally 46–51 cm in length (including tail up to 19 cm) with an average weight of 125–135 cm. Rather larger and distinctly bulkier than Arctic Skua (or Parasitic Jaeger). It has a relatively heavier body, deeper belly, broader-based wings, heavier head and bill, and stouter neck. So, overall bulk can recall Herring Gull (Arctic’s bulk recalls Mew Gull).

Bill is obviously heavy and two-toned (with a pale base and dark tip) at all ages, recalling 1st-winter Glaucous Gull and visible even at long range. The major identification problems revolve around small Pomarines and large Arctics. In-flight, typically looks Broad-bodied and even pot-bellied, with a length of ‘rear end’ (i.e. extension of the body behind wings to the tip of the tail, excluding extensions).

Therefore, about equal to wing width (at a point roughly midway from carpal joint to base); ‘rear end’ is longer than wing width in both Arctic and Long-tailed. But markedly shorter in Great (and vagrant South Polar). Wing structure differs, with ‘arm’ being longer and broader than in Arctic while primaries are relatively shorter.

Flight progression generally steady, being slower, heavier and less inclined to glide or ‘shear’ than Arctic. Away from breeding grounds, where feeds mainly on lemmings, eggs and young birds, more of a direct feeder (on fish) or scavenger (feeding on carrion) and less kleptoparasitic than Arctic. More aggressive in pursuit of other seabirds than Arctic, frequently attacking (and sometimes killing) victims as opposed to harrying them to make them disgorge.

Adult summer has broad and blunt-ended tail projections, not narrow and pointed as in Arctic, which are twisted at the tips and appear to form a diagnostic spoon-shaped ‘blob’. Unless these broken off or re-growing, identification is simple.

Plumage otherwise rather like Arctic, varying from birds with almost all-whitish underparts to uniform blackish-brown overall. Compared with Arctic, pale morph has a breast band usually broader and more mottled. Although sometimes absent (especially in males. Many of which have only a dark wedge on each side of breast) and often a stronger buff washes to sides of the neck. While flanks and lower belly are typically dusky or heavily mottled in females (less so, or even not at all in males).

Arctics often have distinct breast band and brownish lower belly, but flanks are usually clean (except in intermediates). Coloration of the cap, upperparts, breast band and ventral area is darker in tone in Pomarine. Dark morph all dark, with browner throat and sides of neck, looking more uniformly dark than dark morph Arctic. Which shows a more contrastingly darker cap. Intermediates exceptionally rare.

Adult winter has shorter tail projections (or lacks them) and in pale morph body plumage is barred to varying extent, with irregular pale feather tips on upperparts. Especially mantle, scapulars and upper tail coverts), recalling immature (but without barring on underwing coverts, which are uniform blackish). Best separated from Arctic by different ‘jizz’.

Juvenile variable, but great majority fairly dark, differing from juvenile Arctic chiefly in overall bulk. This is very pale juveniles are rare and very dark juveniles are uncommon, juvenile Pomarine typically being far less variable than either of the other two Stercorarius skuas. Dark tips to whitish greater underwing primary coverts divide the whitish bases of primaries from a whitish primary-covert crescent.

This double whitish flash is often a very helpful character in the short to medium range. (Note, however, that palest Arctics can show a suggestion of such a crescent and the very darkest Pomarines may lack it.) Body generally slightly darker than underwing coverts in Pomarine, more uniform in Arctic, and ground color to underwing coverts often paler, making barring stand out more.

In a few very dark Arctics, underwing coverts appear very dark and apparently unbarred. Feather fringes to upperparts and barring on upper tail coverts and underparts less rufous in fresh plumage than in typical juvenile Arctic, with barring on both upper tail and under-tail coverts more even, less wavy.

Head more uniformly colored (typically a deep grey-brown), with little or no sign of a paler nape, of darker streaking or of a paler area (‘noseband’) above bill base (all characteristic of Arctic), and upper tail coverts paler.

Arctic often shows a contrast between paler nape and darker crown. The darker birds showing a combination of pale upper tail and under-tail coverts and uniformly dark head (i.e. without paler nape) are Pomarine. While those showing obviously paler nape than upper tail coverts are Arctic. However, that 1st-summer Pomarine does show contrasting paler nape like Arctic.)

Additionally, although bill color and pattern much the same in both species, the blacktip to the larger, deeper bill of Pomarine is more conspicuous at a longer range. Usually lacks obvious whitish tips to primaries shown by all but darkest Arctic and often visible at rest (although a few pale Pomarines do have them) and has darker marginal coverts along leading edge of wing than in most Arctic.

Also has blunt, not pointed, tips to central tail feathers, but this feature usually of limited value in the field. Because of body bulk, larger individuals could be confused with Great Skua and especially with vagrant South Polar Skua at long range, but the latter has a more extensive white patch on the upper wing and shorter ‘rear end’ (see above). See also vagrant South Polar Skua.

Sex and Age

Sexes similar, but adult male summer usually cleaner on breast and flanks (often lacking dark breast band and flanks entirely). Most of moult to winter plumage takes place in winter quarters but projecting central tail feathers often lost (or damaged) earlier. Adult winter pale morph resembles immature, but underwing dark, not barred, and distinctive twisted tail projection often present.

Adult winter dark morphs little different from summer plumage but can have only short tail projection. Paler 1st-summer individuals like juvenile (see Identification), but have a more prominent tail projection, pale nape (like Arctic), and pale fringes to scapulars and upper wing coverts narrower or absent; dark individuals inseparable from dark juveniles.

2nd-winter pale morph much as adult winter pale morph but underwing barred like a juvenile. 2nd-summer pale morph recalls adult summer pale morph, but tail projection short and extensive barring still present on underbody and underwing. Virtually as an adult by third or fourth summer, but often retains some winter plumage on head, body, and underwing.

Fully adult plumage attained by the fifth summer. Immature dark morph much as adult from second winter, but even more uniformly dark, without much contrast between darker cap and paler sides of face and neck. It becomes an adult by the third summer.

Voice

Pomarine Skua rather silent away from colonies, where gives a series of high, nasal screams during territorial disputes: ‘g-waer, g-waer, g-waer’. Also gives a low harsh ‘kek’ when alarmed.

Status and Habitat

Pomarine Skua is not uncommon. Migrates SW and S, joined by breeders from Siberia, to winter in tropical Atlantic and the Indian Ocean. Most move off the western seaboard of Europe and Africa on migration. But minor passage route through Baltic and presumed to move high overland to reach the Indian Ocean.

It breeds on coastal tundra; the population in a given area varies according to lemming abundance. Away from breeding grounds pelagic. Only exceptionally observed inland.

Read More – Beautiful Black and White Wagtails / The Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria) / The Himalayan Cutia / The fire-tailed myzornis / Pando – The One Tree Forest / Great Blue Heron

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RING OUZEL (Turdus torquatus)

Identification

Ring Ouzel is resembling with common Blackbird in size, shape and basic coloration. However, at all ages, pale edges to wing feathers make wings appear paler than the rest of birds in flight. 

The male bird is distinctive; sooty-black overall with a prominent white breast band and greyish or whitish (in race amicorum) fringes to wing feathers. The bill is yellow with a blackish tip in the breeding season (also shows blackish base to upper mandible at other times).

In autumn and winter, the blackness of plumage obscured by pale feather fringes and breast band less obvious owing to brownish tips to white feathers. 1st-years in fresh autumn plumage have even broader feather fringes and breast band even less distinct.

However, the Female bird is considerably browner than male, with brownish scaling within breast band and pale scaling on underparts; in autumn and winter is even more prominently scaled. 1st-years in autumn have breast band very obscure, or even absent. Such birds differ from Common Blackbird is having to scale on body plumage and pale edges to wing feathers.

Beware partial-albino Common Blackbird with white breast band, but calls, wing pattern, and body scaling should prevent confusion. A bird of the open country, shy and wary, usually flying considerable distances when flushed uttering harsh ‘chakking’ call (quite unlike calls of Common Blackbird).

Readily perches on stone walls, rocky outcrops or scree slopes and trees; will feed on berry-bearing bushes in autumn. It is usually solitary on breeding grounds but forms small parties on migration and in winter.

Sex and Age

In fresh plumage, colors dulled by pale feather fringing, but male much sootier than female and with more obvious breast band (sullied brown). Juvenile spotted like young Common Blackbird, but less rufous, with underparts scaled whitish and pale edges to wing feathers.

Moreover, 1st-years have broader pale edges to body feathers when fresh (in autumn) than respective adults and breast bands almost obscured, especially in females.

Geographical Variation

Mountains of C and S Europe is inhabited by alpestris which has much broader pale fringes, especially on underparts, and belly appears whitish even in spring. Birds of the Caucasus and E Turkey, amicorum, have wing feathers very broadly pale-fringed, appearing almost pale winged in flight.

VOICE

ring ouzel usual call is very hard ‘tak-tak-tak’, sometimes prolonged into a rattling chatter. Song far-carrying, consisting of several clear, melancholy piping notes (e.g. ‘tu-li tu-li tu-li’), often followed by a chuckle.

Status and Habitat

In addition to the mapped range, it has bred Faeroes, Belgium, Denmark, Latvia, Estonia.) In breeding season, mountainsides, quarries, rocky outcrops, and moorland gullies and ravines, locally even on coastal cliffs. Winters both on dry, scrubby hillsides and in open oak woodland. On passage, also in lowland hedgerows, coastal pastures, etc.

Nesting and Diet

The ring ouzel usually build nests among rocks, or bushes, laying many pale blue eggs and molted with brown, in a neat cup-shaped nest. As this is omnivorous bird prefers to eat wide range of insects, small rodents, seeds, invertebrates, adult larval beetles, reptiles, earthworms, and berries. 

Also Read: The Orange-Breasted Bunting / The fire-tailed myzornis / The Bar-tailed Desert Lark / Dusky Naumann’s Thrush (Turdus eunomus)

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6 Facts About Cetti's Warbler

1. Identification

CETTI’S WARBLER (Cettia cetti)is fairly large but very skulking warbler of dense waterside undergrowth with broad, rounded tail and often slightly ‘untidy’ appearance. The unstreamed dark reddish-brown above, with pale greyish-washed sides of head and breast contrasting somewhat with more rufous flanks and under tail coverts and fairly weak greyish-white supercilium.

This old-world warbler is 13 to 14cm bill to tail with an average weight is 14 to 15g. The strong legs are reddish-brown. Compared with unstreaked Acrocephalus warblers are relatively chunkier, with greyer-toned underparts and strongly rufous-toned, darker brown upperparts, more rounded head and smaller and weaker bill.

However, the tail is broader and more rounded and is frequently cocked. In good view, under tail coverts can be seen to be short and broad, with weak pale scalloping (in Acrocephalus they are rather longer, narrower and more uniform).

Savi’s Warbler has similar skulking behavior and similar calls (but not song) but has a longer, fuller tail with longer, broader under tail coverts, flat or peaked crown shape, stronger bill, buffer-toned underparts, and paler legs. Presence almost invariably revealed by loud, distinctive, explosive bursts of the song (given virtually throughout the year). Hops in wren-like fashion, flicking wings and rounded tail, through tangled undergrowth.

2. Cetti’s Warbler Song

Cetti’s Warbler Song includes an abrupt, sharp ‘chip’ or ‘chich’, a loud, sharp ‘tsuk’ (recalling mobbing call of Common Blackbird). And a prolonged rattle (recalling Winter Wren, but higher and more metallic) when intensely alarmed.

The song unmistakable and an astonishingly loud, explosive, liquid, staccato series of notes which might be rendered as ‘PWIT-piti-chewit-chewitchewit’ or ‘CHIP-pip-chetchetchetchet’.

The Song is given virtually throughout the year; appears to double as a contact-alarm call. It is usually singing from the inside cover but often climbs into view when singing near top of the thicket. Quite inquisitive but nervous: often goaded into vocal activity by a sudden noise.

3. Geographical Variation

Race orientalis of C Turkey and Transcaucasia southwards and eastwards is slightly greyer above and whiter on the breast than in nominate race.

4. Status and Habitat

Locally common. Has spread northwards in recent decades to colonize S Britain and Belgium. (In addition to mapped range, has bred Switzerland, Netherlands, Germany.)

Tangled thickets by lakes, marshes, rivers, streams, and ditches; also patches of willows or brambles among reedbeds. This is a small old-world warbler, breeds in Europe, Africa, and Asia.

5. Diet

The Cetti’s Warbler prefers damp areas like lakes, ponds, rivers, and marshes. This is an insectivorous bird, so like to eat soft-bodied insects and larvae, because they can digest them very quickly.

6. Moult

Moreover, the complete post-breeding moult, usually finished early   September.   But partial post-juvenile moult including body feathers, lesser and median coverts, inner greater coverts and some tertial.

Also, some specimens can moult all the greater coverts and a variable number of flight feathers. But the primary coverts are always retained; usually finished in September. Some specimens have a pre-breeding moulting wing coverts and some tertial.

Also Read: 
The Orange-Breasted Bunting / The fire-tailed myzornis / The Bar-tailed Desert Lark / Dusky Naumann’s Thrush (Turdus eunomus)
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Dusky Naumann’s Thrush (Turdus eunomus)

Identification

Asian vagrant (breeds in Siberia central from eastwards). Recalls Redwing in structure, but substantially larger with stouter bill and relatively long tail. The two subspecies appear distinctly different in the field and are best considered separately.

The medium size Dusky Naumann’s Thrush adult male bird is dull dark brown above with blackish feather centers, giving the mottled appearance (with wear upperparts appear blacker). Hence, becoming blacker on the crown and ear-coverts which contrast with conspicuous white supercilium and throat, latter extending across the side of the neck to form half-collar as in Redwing.

Moreover, the feathers of rump and upper tail coverts broadly fringed rufous, and wings largely rufous-chestnut. The whitish underparts are heavily mottled and scaled blackish, forming ill-defined breast bands that contrast with cleaner throat. The underwing is almost entirely rufous.

Unlikely to be confused, but occasional variant individuals lacking rufous-chestnut in wings could perhaps be confused with female Black-throated Thrush. Adult females’ bird and 1st-years are usually duller overall, with duller rufous-buff area in wings, and are less intensely scaled and mottled than adult males. These birds are most likely to be confused with smaller Redwing.

Which is also shows paler areas on the wing, prominent pale supercilium and collar, and diffuse breast streaking forming chest band. But Redwing has rufous flanks, is browner above, has rich buff ground color to breast and buff wash to supercilium, and has darker rufous underwing (duller rufous in Dusky).

Therefore, some Dusky have rufous scaling mixed with black on underparts, especially on flanks, and others are intermediate between Dusky and Naumann’s. All kinds of apparent intermediate plumages can be seen.

Naumann’s Thrush (nominate race)! Upperparts lack the blackish mottling of Dusky, being greyish-brown overall, while underpart markings are rufous-chestnut instead of black, often being more diffuse and thus producing almost wholly rufous breast and flanks, mixed with whitish scaling in fresh plumage.

Some black speckling and scaling usually present at sides of the throat and on breast, and rufous scaling present on upperparts. The bright rufous outer tail feathers are obvious in flight, less striking on the ground (were partially obscured by browner central feathers).

The throat and supercilium are off-white, washed rusty-buff. Upperwing lacks strong rufous tones of Dusky, but the underwing is darker rufous. Adult females and 1styears average duller, but the pattern and color distinctive and not matched by any other thrush of our region.  

Although red-throated race of Dark-throated Thrush also has a bright rufous tail. Both forms feed more in open than most other Asian thrushes, perching freely on tops of bushes and trees and feeding on the ground in the manner of Fieldfare.

Sex and Age

As already discussed under the Identification section. Some adult male Dusky is duller than usual and so sexing not always straightforward. However, adult females generally have less blackish feather centers above and below, often have more distinct malar stripe and primary coverts appear duller, less strongly rufous, with less distinct, brownish (rather than blackish) tips.

Adult Naumann’s often hard to sex, but females average duller below (especially on the throat, which is often paler), tend to show more distinct malar stripe and usually have less rufous on scapulars. The juveniles of both forms are heavily pale-spotted above and dark-spotted below.

The 1^st-years maybe aged by more distinct whitish or pale buff tips to greater coverts than in adults. 1st-year male Dusky usually resembles adult males in having blacker feather centers on both upperparts and underparts, but primary coverts are closer to those of adult females (although dark tips are blacker and more distinct).

Some 1st-year female Naumann’s may be separated by obvious dark spotting on the breast (and sometimes flanks), but many inseparable from 1styear males.

Voice                                                                        

The bird simple flute calls include a harsh chattering ‘chak-chakchak’ of alarm, recalling Fieldfare, a shrill, wheezy ‘spirr’, recalling Common Starling, a loud, shrill, nasal ‘cheeh-cheeh’ and many other high-pitched calls. The whistling song, unlikely to be heard consists of several clear, descending notes followed by a faint twitter and recalls Redwing.

Taxonomy

Intermediates between Dusky and Naumann’s Thrushes are not infrequent. But as the area of hybridization appears to be quite limited Dusky Thrush is sometimes accorded full species status as T. eunomus.

Geographical Variation

Differences discussed under Identification. Race eunomus (Dusky Thrush) breeds further north than nominate race (Naumann’s Thrush). Both occur as rare vagrants, with most of northern records being of Dusky whereas less frequent Naumann’s has predominated among records from the south.

Status / Habitat

The vagrant birds found in Europe, Cyprus, and Middle East. In natural range breeds in rather open deciduous or coniferous forests and in willow scrub at the southern edge of the tundra. In winter quarters, favors groves, orchards, and open fields. 

Also Read: The Orange-Breasted Bunting / The fire-tailed myzornis 

Thyme (Thymum) Herb

Thyme was a symbol of life energy to the ancient Greeks, of spirit and bravery. "Tosmell of thyme" was an expression of praise, and athletes anointed their chests with thyme oils before games to promote courage. 

The herb's generic name Thymus, thus, is thought by some to derive from the Greek thymos meaning courage. Others think it derives from the Greek word thymiama that refers to a substance burnt as incense, and an incense burner is called a thymiaterion.

Thyme, crushed or as incense, was used for fumigating producing fragrant smoke offerings against evil and in sacrifice to the Gods. Virgil refers to the use of thyme as a fumigant in his Georgics and Pliny informs us that burning thyme puts all venomous creatures to flight. The antiseptic properties of thyme also were fully recognized, as well as its many other medicinal values. Blossoming thyme covered the hills of Hymettos as it still does today.

Ovid's "purple hills of flowering Hymettos" refers to the wild thyme blossoms, and the honey made in this area then, as now, was considered the best in the world. So special was the honey of Mount Hymettos to the ancients that the idea of sweetness was equated with thyme. (Mount Hymettos thyme is Thymus capitatus, an upright subshrub which is sometimes given its own genus as Coridothymus capitatus.)

Pliny remarks that Attic thyme was imported to Rome, but that it was difficult to grow in Italy partly because it required a sea breeze. All thyme, he adds, was once thought to require sea air; but there is a type that thrives now in the province of Gallia Narbonensis on stony plains.

The sweet smell of thyme also made it a popular component of the garland’s beloved to the ancients. In a fragment by the Greek dramatist Eubolus, a garland seller recommends a wreath of thyme, "for who would forbear to kiss a girl who's wearing this?

"Dionysius of Syracuse, famous for his lavish parties, strewed his palace with wild thyme before entertaining, partly because its pungent fragrance was considered aphrodisiac. These thymes were probably Thymus vulgaris or one of several species of creeping thymes native to the Mediterranean area. About 300 B.C. Theophrastus noted that abundant thyme blossoms indicated a large harvest for the beekeeper. If rained upon, the flowers were injured or even destroyed, but they thrived on a sea breeze.

Cultivated forms of thyme are indistinguishable, he adds, 'but the wild kind Attic thyme is said to have more than one form. Of the mountain thymes, one variety is like savory and very pungent, while the other is delicate and more fragrant. 

In his Concerning Odors Theophrastus also mentions the use of tufted thyme flowers in perfume. Thyme appears in Hippocrates' materia medica as a healing herb, and in Dioscorides'herbal "thymos (Thymus capitatus) is known by all." Dioscorides recommends it for stomach complaints, asthma, worms, phlegm, and for dissolving blood clots.

He also lists another thyme called serpyllos because it creeps, saying that it is the garden kind and is used for making garlands. A related variety he describes as wild and upright, growing on rocks, sweet-smelling, sharp-tasting, and better for medicinal uses than garden thyme. Pliny too catalogs several kinds of thyme. His thymus, or garden thyme, seems to be Thymus vulgaris, although he discusses Attic thyme as well as wild creeping thyme that he calls serpyllum, used for medicines and garlands.

Pliny's list contains twenty-eight disorders which thyme remedies, generally paralleling that of Dioscorides. Plinyadds that thyme taken in vinegar and honey cure hypochondria, mental aberrations, and melancholy. Epileptics are revived by its smell and should sleep on beds of soft thyme (probably Thymus vulgaris). Wild thyme drives snakes away.

Aristophanes praised a drink made from figs and thyme. Virgil was among those Romans who thought that thyme was an invigorating food, and we know that it was used as a salad green and to flavor cheeses. Apicius included thyme in moretum, a mixture variously described as a salad, a stew, and a cheese.

It may have been a blend of herbs used as a bouquet garni. In the Deipnosophists, Athenaeus quotes a fragment from Callimachus who wrote: "I should like to satiate myself with thyme. "Identifying the thymes of the ancient Greeks and Romans is made more difficult using the word serpyllum for creeping thymes by Varro, Pliny, Virgil, Dioscorides, and other classical writers.

The Thymus serpyllum we know today is not native to Italy but rather to northern Europe. T. serpyllum is the name given by Linnaeus in the eighteenth century to a northern species of creeping thyme of which he was aware. Classical references to serpyllum, thus, are either to Thymus vulgaris, which does layer itself as a mature plant or to one or more of the complexes of small creeping thymes native to Italy, specifically, T. glabrescens, T. longicaulis, and T. praecox.

Thymus vulgaris is a semi-prostrate subshrub with a woody, fibrous root and numerous hard branched stems. Small, linear, elliptical leaves are set in pairs. Thymus capitatusis a small upright shrub with vertical branches. It has narrower, linear leaves clearly arranged in two ranks that make a cross when seen from above.

 Also Read: Harvesting Drying and Storage of Herbs / Spinach: How to Grow the World’s Healthiest Foods / Basil – It’s Not as Difficult as You Think

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Bar-tailed Desert Lark

Bar-tailed Desert Lark (Ammomanes cinctura) is like typical forms of Desert Lark, but smaller, with a slightly shorter tail, thinner legs, smaller and more domed head and shorter, weaker and more pointed bill. 

It is also called The Bar-Tailed Lark, that is almost uniform sandy buff but has greyish wash above, slightly darker breast sides and pale cinnamon-rufous wings.

It lacks any form of streaking (easily differentiating it from short-toed larks of the genus Calandrella), but in very close views weak darker mottling may be visible on the center of breast. The bar-tailed desert lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found from Morocco to Pakistan.

During the flight, the pale rufous flight feathers contrast well with the otherwise mainly sandy plumage, especially on the underside. However, the outer primaries have dusky tips that form a dark trailing edge. But the distinctive tail pattern (rump and tail pale rufous, latter with the clear-cut blackish terminal band) can be difficult to discern, and best seen if bird spreads tail when alighting. 

This Bar-tailed Desert Lark natural habitat is hot deserts and many places it is considered as a common species, but elsewhere rather less common. Bar-tailed Desert Lark plumage can be closely matched by some forms of Desert. But latter has a relatively larger head, with flatter crown and longer, almost thrush-like bill (bill of Bar-tailed more bunting like, and often yellower). 

Typical forms of Desert has whitish throat and upper breast, with diffuse darker streaking on breast, and rest of underparts pinkish- or rufous-buff. Moreover, Bar-tailed has whitish belly as well as throat, with breast and flanks washed with buff and little or no streaking on the breast.

Further, Desert Lark usually has greyish-brown centers to tertials, while in Bar-tailed are usually pale rufous, although there is some overlap. Several forms of Desert have rufous in wings and tail, and some of these are smaller and shorter-billed than is typical, so caution is required.

Further, the tail the pattern always differs, however, with Desert never showing clear-cut blackish a terminal band like Bar-tailed but instead a broad, diffuse dark triangle, pointing towards the tail base (while dark reaches almost to tail base on central feathers in Desert, it is restricted to terminal third in Bar-tailed).

Additionally, Bar-tailed appears to be daintier, with more spindly legs, and holds forebody higher off ground than Desert, which typically adopts a more crouched posture, with legs less conspicuous. Runs well, but jerkily. Flight jerky and bounding. Generally shyer and less approachable than Desert, with a marked preference for flat desert, Desert preferring hilly or rocky slopes. See also female Black-crowned Sparrow-lark and Dunn’s Lark.

SEX/AGE

Sexes similar. Juvenile has narrow pale fringes to feathers of upperparts and narrow dark tips to crown feathers, which are lost at post-juvenile moult. Dark tips to outer primaries are often indistinct or lacking.

VOICE

Occasionally utters a short, soft chirruping ‘jupp’, a more buzzing ‘prreet’ or a thin, high ‘see-ou’ in flight. Song distinctive: one or two weak, short ‘zik’ notes followed by a prolonged, penetrating, squeaky, rising ‘st’eeeeeeeee’.

The latter being the most audible part of song unless bird close and sounding not unlike a squeaky gate being slowly opened. Uttered from the ground, or in strongly undulating yo-yo-like song flight. Alternatively, at least in some areas, a longer, three-part ‘turr-ree tre-le tree-tree-you’.

GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATION

Nominate race confined to Cape Verde Is, is rather darker and sandier-more rufous than race arenicolor, which occupies the remainder of the range in our region.

STATUS/HABITAT

Relatively local but not uncommon in suitable habitats. Seemingly more localized in east of our region than in Sahara. Flat stony or sandy desert or semi-desert, with sparse low vegetation.

Also Read: The Orange-Breasted Bunting / The fire-tailed myzornis