Alaudala rufescens

The Lesser Short-toed Lark is classified as Vulnerable (VU) because of the continued decline in its population size and the sharp flactuations in the number of nesting birds from year to year. Its rate of decline is estimated to exceed 10% over three generations (9 years). In the previous edition of the Red Book (2002), it was classified as Least Concern (LC). The change in its threat category reflects the decline in the population size and range.

Habitats	Desert Plains, Inland Sand Dunes
Presence In Israel	Summer, Migrant, Resident
Breeding In Israel	Breeder
Migration Types	Resident, Nomad
Zoographical Zones	Irano-Turanian, Saharo-Arabian
Landscape Types	Plains & Valleys, Wide Wadis, Sand Dunes
Vegetation Types	Steppe, Herbaceous
Vegetation Densities	Low
Nest Locations	Ground
Diet Types	Herbivore
Foraging Grounds	Ground
Body Sizes	Small (up to 500g)
Threat Factors	Overgrazing, Direct disturbance from human activity, Increased predation from invasive and eruptive species

The Lesser Short-toed Lark is a small, delicate lark, with a pale brown plumage, tending to rufous, and a streaked back and breast. It has a short, thick bill. The male has a hoarse, fluent rattling song, with extensive mimicry of other bird songs. Usually performed while flying high in the air.

A relatively rare resident and summer visitor in the Western Negev, particularly in the Halutsa Sands, Agur Sands and Nitsana area. After rain events, it sometimes nests in other areas in the central and southern Negev. Until the 2000s, it was very common in the Western Negev sands, but in recent years, there has been a significant decline in the number of Lesser Short-toed Larks in these areas, to the point of complete absence in some years.

The Lesser Short-toed Lark inhabits broad wadis and sandy and loess flats with sparse low vegetation.

Its threat factors are not sufficiently understood, but observations on Lesser Short-toed Lark habitats in the Western Negev show them to be disturbed by intensive grazing of livestock, accompanied by dogs, direct disturbance by military and off-road vehicle activity, and the impact of agricultural expansion, including invasive and eruptive species.

No specific conservation measures have been taken for this species to date.

• פז, ע. 1986. עופות. מתוך אלון, ע. (עורך), החי והצומח של ארץ ישראל. כרך 6. הוצאת משרד הביטחון, ישראל.

• Perlman, Y., Shochat, E. and Labinger, Z. 2011. Developing Managment plan for important bird areas in southern Israel. second annual report, Nizzana region and Arava Valley.Israeli Ornithological center, SPNI.
• Shirihai, H., 1996. The Birds of Israel. Academic Press, London.
• Symes, A. 2013. Species generation lengths. Unpublished, BirdLife International.
• Species page at Birdlife International