SLINGS QL (1981) Third Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla in the Netherlands and its possible origin. LIMOSA 54 (1): 31-32.

In this note the third Dutch record of a Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla captured at ringstation Castricum (Noord-Holland) on 24th October 1978, is reported. The bird was one of the pale specimens repeatedly recorded in western Europe and believed to be of eastern origin. The bird was decidedly short-billed. The extremely narrow range of bill-lengths as given by Svensson (1975) may be due to an error. Four pale-backed, short-billed birds (in breeding dress) from the Black Sea-area, labelled brachydactyla but more closely resembling birds of the pale eastern sub-species longipennis are present in the collection of the Zoologisch Museum (Amsterdam). It is suggested that the pale Short-toed Larks recorded in western Europe might originate from this area. Greater Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla

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