From Opus

Photo by Jugal Tiwari
Kutch, Gujarat, India, December, 2008

Melanocorypha bimaculata

[edit] Identification

16-18 cm

• Streaked grey above
• White below
• Two small black patches on the breast sides
• White supercilium
• Short broad grey brown wings
• Short white tipped tail

[edit] Distribution

Turkey into Central Asia. It winters in northeast Africa, the Greater Middle East to Pakistan, India and Tibet.

[edit] Taxonomy

Monotypic^[1]

Two subspecies, rufescens and torquata are not recognised by all authorities^[2]

[edit] Habitat

Stony semi-desert and higher altitude cultivation. Desert farmland and grassland.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Breeding

Its nest is on the ground, with 3-4 eggs being laid.

[edit] Diet

The diet includes seeds and insects, the latter especially in the breeding season.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
2. Avibase
3. BF Member observations
4. Wikipedia

• List of references

[edit] External Links