All subspecies are dull brownish grey with faintly streaked upperparts and appears distinctly short-tailed with a fine bill.

Subspecies krishnakumarsinhji found around Bhavnagar in Gujarat is greyer above with broad dark streaks on the upper plumage and breast.

Subspecies adamsi of West Asia (Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan) and parts of northwest India is paler.

[9] The species is found across the Gangetic plains, the sandy banks of the Indus, Brahmaputra, Irrawaddy and Chindwin Rivers.

[6] The sand lark is usually found singly, in pairs or in small loose groups.

They forage by making sudden zigzag spurts on the sandy banks near water, feeding on insects as well as seeds.