Habitat: Fallow fields, meadows, semi-deserts, dry salt marshes and sandy areas. In autumn, often found in large flocks on fallow cornfields.

Appearance: Summer visitor in the Mediterranean region. A vagrant in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Breeding season: April – July. Ground-nesting. The Greater Short-toed Lark builds a deep, bowl-shaped nest, often in the open and with little protection from the scorching sun, at the base of a tuft of grass or a plant. The interior is finely lined. 3 – 5 eggs.

Characteristics: Length 14–16 cm, wingspan 26–31 cm, weight 15–25 g, lifespan 8 years.

Food: Eats fine seeds as well as many insects.