Crested Lark Galerida cristata is a medium-sized lark with a long erectile crest visible even when flattened. In China, magna resident Xinjiang to western Inner Mongolia and leautungensisSichuan to Liaoning. Some movement south in winter. Inhabits dry plains, semi-deserts, and human-modified habitats such as dry cultivated land, roadsides, and ruins. Requires areas where bare ground covers half the surface. Eurasian Skylark and Oriental Skylark are smaller and shorter crests disappear when folded. Photo: G. c. magna, Tiegai (36.209425, 100.684428), Qinghai, China, elev. 2650 m (8,680 ft.), July. (Craig Brelsford)Group of magna in Jungar Basin (45.290946, 84.776939), Xinjiang, elev. 280 m (920 ft.), July. (Craig Brelsford)
de Juana, E. and F. Suárez. Species account for Crested Lark in family Alaudidae (Larks). Pp. 595–6 in del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. & Christie, D.A. eds. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 9. Cotingas to Pipits and Wagtails. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain, 2004.
MacKinnon, John. Guide to the Birds of China. Oxford University Press, 2022.
Svensson, Lars, Killian Mullarney, & Dan Zetterström. Collins Bird Guide: The Most Complete Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe. 2nd ed. HarperCollins, London, 2009.
