The thick-billed lark or Clotbey lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae.
Region
North Africa and the Middle East
Typical Environment
Occurs patchily across arid and semi-arid regions from Morocco and Western Sahara through Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt to the Sinai, Israel, Jordan, and the Arabian Peninsula. It favors gravel and stone deserts (regs/hamadas), sparsely vegetated plains, and dry wadis with scattered shrubs. The species avoids dense sand dunes and prefers open ground for running and foraging. After rains it can appear more widely where ephemeral plants sprout.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Arid
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The thick-billed lark, also called Clotbey's lark, is a robust desert lark with an unusually deep, conical bill adapted for cracking hard seeds. It is the sole member of the genus Ramphocoris. Breeding is often timed with rainfall events, when insects become more abundant. It runs swiftly across stony plains and is easily overlooked due to its cryptic coloration.
Temperament
wary and ground-oriented
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, direct flights
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly or in pairs during the breeding season, forming small loose flocks at other times. Nests are shallow scrapes on the ground placed near a stone or low shrub for cover. Clutches are small, and breeding often follows rainfall pulses. Both adults guard the nest area, with the female primarily incubating.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a simple series of soft trills and chirrs delivered from the ground or during a brief fluttering display flight. Calls include sharp, dry notes used to keep contact in open terrain.
