Red-winged lark explained

The red-winged lark (Mirafra hypermetra) is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in eastern Africa.

Taxonomy and systematics

The red-winged lark is taken to form a species complex with the allopatric[1] rufous-naped lark, and perhaps with the Somali lark. The name "red-winged lark" is sometimes used as an alternate name for the Indian bush lark. The alternate names red-winged bush lark and rufous-winged bush lark may also be used to describe the Indian bush lark or the Bengal bush lark respectively.[2] [3]

Subspecies

Four subspecies are recognized:[4]

Description

It is a larger version of the rufous-naped lark, with a more robust bill and longer tail,[5] but their morphological and vocal features do not intergrade where they occur together.[6]

Distribution and habitat

It has a patchy but quite extensive range in equatorial eastern Africa. It occurs within Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, and its estimated global extent of occurrence is 660,000 km2. Its total population has yet to be quantified, but is believed to be large.

Its natural habitat is savanna[5] in tropical to subtropical dry, open, lowland.

References

Notes and References

  1. Book: Britton . P. L. . Birds of East Africa: 612. Mirafra africana Smith Rufous-naped Lark KTU 659 . 1980 . EANHS . Nairobi . 114 .
  2. Web site: Mirafra erythroptera – Avibase. avibase.bsc-eoc.org. 2016-11-28.
  3. Web site: Mirafra assamica – Avibase. avibase.bsc-eoc.org. 2016-11-28.
  4. IOC World Bird List 6.4. IOC World Bird List Datasets. 10.14344/ioc.ml.6.4. free.
  5. Book: Sinclair . Ian. Ryan . Peter . Birds of Africa south of the Sahara . 2010 . Struik Nature . Cape Town . 9781770076235 . 330 . 2nd.
  6. Web site: Rufous-naped Lark (Mirafra africana) - HBW 9, p. 551 . Internet Bird Collection . Lynx Edicions. 29 June 2016.