- Calendulauda erythrochlamys
Certhilauda erythrochlamys
Identification
Length 16-18 cm, mass 25-33 g. A medium-sized lark; appears slightly longer-legged than other larks.
The upper parts are sandy-rufous and unstreaked. Under parts white with light rufoius streaking. Face plain with whitish eyebrow, dark brown eye-stripe and indistinct brown malar stripe.
Distribution
West-central Namibia between River Kuiseb (Walvis Bay) and River Koichab.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1]. Some authorities include Barlow's Lark in Dune Lark as several extra subspecies.
Formerly placed in genus Calendulauda.
Habitat
Thinly vegetated dunes, Namib Desert.2
Behaviour
Usually seen alone, in pairs, or in small groups.
Diet
Forages on and between dunes for invertebrates and seeds, often digging in the sand for the latter. Not observed drinking water.
Breeding
Monogamous and territorial. The nest is a cup of grass (usually domed) built by the female, and lined with finer material; it is built in a depression dug in the sand at the base of a plant at the top or on the side of a hummock or dune. One or two eggs are laid at any time of the year after rain, and incubated for 13-14 days by the female. The nestling period is about 13 days and the young leave the nest before they are able to fly.
References
- Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- Hockey, PAR, WRJ Dean, and PG Ryan, eds. 2005. Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa. 7th ed. Cape Town: John Voelcker Bird Book Fund. ISBN 978-0620340533
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Dune Lark. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 12 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Dune_Lark
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
