Indochinese bush lark explained

The Indochinese bush lark (Plocealauda erythrocephala) or Indochinese lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in southeast Asia.

Taxonomy and systematics

Following work a decade ago by Per Alström, the Indochinese bush lark was split from the Bengal bush lark to form a separate species.^[1] The species is monotypic: no subspecies are recognised.^[2] The Indochinese bush lark was formerly placed in the genus Mirafra but was one of five species moved to the newly erected genus Plocealauda based on evidence from a large molecular genetic study published in 2023.^{[2] [3]}

Distribution and habitat

The range of the Indochinese bush lark extends over a large swath of southeast Asia, and can be found in Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos.^[4]

The Indochinese bush lark is found in a variety of open-space habitats up to 900 m interspersed with trees and shrubs and has adapted to cultivated land. It also exists at forest margins, as well as thickets of bamboo.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Alström . Per . 1998 . Taxonomy of the Mirafra assamica complex . Forktail. 13 . 97–107. May 1, 2009.
2. Web site: Gill . Frank . Frank Gill (ornithologist) . Donsker . David . Rasmussen . Pamela . Pamela C. Rasmussen . August 2024 . Nicators, Bearded Reedling, larks . IOC World Bird List Version 14.2 . International Ornithologists' Union . 10 September 2024 .
3. Alström . P. . Per Alström . Mohammadi . Z. . Enbody . E.D. . Irestedt . M. . Engelbrecht . D. . Crochet . P.-A. . Guillaumet . A. . Rancilhac . L. . Tieleman . B.I. . Olsson . U. . Donald . P.F. . Stervander . M. . 2023 . Systematics of the avian family Alaudidae using multilocus and genomic data . Avian Research . 14 . 100095 . 10.1016/j.avrs.2023.100095 . free.
4. Web site: Indochinese Bushlark - BirdLife Species Factsheet . Compiler: Helen Temple . Evaluators: Jeremy Bird, Stuart Butchart . . 2008 . May 25, 2009.