Rubén Barone
 ·  26 juni 2025  13:00

Hi.

Very nice photo, Eduard.

Vieillot described the nominate subspecies, Alaudala rufescens rufescens, from Tenerife, Canary Islands, in 1820. Unfortunately, the species has been extirpated on this island and is becoming scarce in many areas of its former distribution on Gran Canaria. Only Fuerteventura and Lanzarote hold important populations of this lark in the Canary archipelago.

Best regards from the Canaries.

Bert de Bruin
 ·  26 juni 2025  18:50

Dupont's helaas alleen gehoord?! Dat is zo ongeveer het mooiste dat je kan meemaken;-)

Folkert Jan Hoogstra
 ·  26 juni 2025  19:34

@Rubèn, do you have any idea why the species has declined in Tenerife and Gran Canaria?

Rubén Barone
 ·  26 juni 2025  20:44

Hi again.

The strong decline on Gran Canaria and local extinction on Tenerife have been caused by several factors, e.g. wide use of chemical products in intensive agriculture, loss of habitat, predation by rats and cats, etc. In any case, there are very few studies about this species in the archipelago, and we need more in-depth information about the present status and conservation of this lark here.

Best regards from the Canaries.

Eric Jan Alblas
 ·  28 juni 2025  08:42, gewijzigd 28 juni 2025  08:48

Hi Rubén,

In 'Birds of Macaronesia' it is stated that 'A mitochondrial DNA analysis performed just before the population form the north of Tenerife became extinct did not provide any basis for the existence of two races (in the Canaries). Hence, C. rufescens rufescens in Canaries'.

Do you agree with this statement and if so: not recognise the subspecies polatzeki?

Other sources like the Handbook of Western Palearctic Birds (Shirihai et al) do recognise both subspecies in the Canaries but consider rufescens extinct.

Rubén Barone
 ·  28 juni 2025  20:23

Hi.

A genetic study (not published) indeed showed that in the Canaries, only one subspecies exists, Alaudala rufescens rufescens, but traditionally, there were two subspecies in our archipelago, rufescens and polatzeki. I remember comparing museum skins of both supposed forms, and (to me) it was quite difficult to find clear differences. Some individuals seemed to be more rufous (at least from the population of the NE area of Tenerife), but I consider this morphological character not constant and with dubious taxonomic value. So, most probably at present we have only one subspecies in the archipelago, rufescens.

Best regards from the Canaries.