Foxy lark explained

The foxy lark or Abyssinian lark (Calendulauda alopex) is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in east-central Africa.

Taxonomy and systematics

Formerly, the foxy lark was classified as belonging to the genus Mirafra until moved to Calendulauda in 2009.^[1] Not all authorities recognize this re-classification.^[2] Alternate names for the foxy lark include the Abyssinian fawn-colored lark and Somali fawn-coloured bush lark. Clements has merged this bird with the fawn-colored lark.

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized:^[3]

• Masai fawn-coloured lark or Hewitt's clapper lark (C. a. intercedens) - (Reichenow, 1895): Originally described as a separate species in the genus Mirafra. Found from eastern and southern Ethiopia and western Somalia to eastern Uganda, Kenya and northern Tanzania.
• C. a. alopex - (Sharpe, 1890): Found in extreme eastern Ethiopia and northern Somalia

Distribution and habitat

The foxy lark has a large range, with an estimated global extent of occurrence of 100,000-1,000,000 km²,^[4] where it is found in dense, thorny scrubland.^[5]

External links

• Abyssinian lark song^[6] - xeno-canto

Notes and References

1. Web site: Taxonomy Version 2 « IOC World Bird List. www.worldbirdnames.org. 2016-11-17.
2. Web site: Calendulauda alopex - Avibase. avibase.bsc-eoc.org. 2016-11-17.
3. IOC World Bird List 6.4. IOC World Bird List Datasets. 10.14344/ioc.ml.6.4. free.
4. Web site: Abyssinian Lark - BirdLife Species Factsheet . Evaluators: Jeremy Bird, Stuart Butchart . Compilers: Stuart Butchart, Jonathan Ekstrom . Matt Harding . . 2008 . May 1, 2009 .
5. Web site: Superfamily PASSEROIDEA . Alberto Mas . Picchio Verde . June 17, 2005 . May 2, 2009 . November 21, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081121051428/http://www.scricciolo.com/classificazione/passeriformes22.htm . dead .
6. Note: Foxy lark song was recorded in Olongosai, Kenya on April 29, 2008