Kenyan Sparrow-Lark (1 Viewer)

JWN Andrewes

Poor Judge of Pasta.

• Oct 3, 2010

• #1

Another mystery photo from a colleague's recent trip to Kenya. Taken on a rocky outcrop surrounded by flat grassland at Amboseli. I've got it down to immature Sparrow-Lark, either Fischer's or Chestnut-backed on range, with the former more likely on abundance, but of course it don't always work like that! Any thoughts?

Cheers

James

 

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halftwo

Wird Batcher

• Oct 3, 2010

• #2

James,

A strange-looking washed-out beast! I'd go for Fischer's on the following: dark centres to the wing coverts, general paleness, mottled head, dark on belly restricted to centre; habitat.
However the wings do look rather rufous!

H

 

tomjenner

Well-known member

• Oct 3, 2010

• #3

Here is a female Chestnut-backed (I don't have any pictures of juveniles) and as Halftwo says, the wing coverts have distinct chestnut centres. I am not familiar with Fischer's, but Chestnut-backed doesn't seem quite right.

Tom

 

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Tib78

Well-known member

• Oct 4, 2010

• #4

Hi all,

Like the previous poster, my experience of Sparrow-larks in juv/imm plumage is rather limited.
I agree with Halftwo and Tom, it looks like a Fischer's to me too. For some of the features mentionned by Halftwo and also because of the reddish cast on the supercilium and around the eye: a feature I usually associate with Fischer's.
On the other hand, I would not put too much confidence in the amount of black on the belly: juvenile generally have a paler belly than adults and even adult females can show considerable variation in this respect (at least in some West African populations, some females Chestnut-backed can have a very pale belly).

 

Last edited: Oct 4, 2010

JWN Andrewes

Poor Judge of Pasta.

• Oct 5, 2010

• #5

Thanks everyone, much appreciated.

James

 

R

RedChris79

New member

• Oct 5, 2010

• #6

Hi all,
I am the afore mentioned colleague who took this photo. James tells me it may be of some use for you guys to post this on the Opus database as an example of the species showing juvenile plumage. Please feel free to do so and use these photos as you wish.
Cheers
Chris

 

njlarsen

Gallery Moderator

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Oct 5, 2010

• #7

Chris, welcome to birdforum and thanks for your permission to post this. Now that you are here, take a look around! It would be great if you would also post the images in the gallery here (I can post it to Opus but not the gallery).

Niels

Edit: any insight into behavior would be welcome

 

Last edited: Oct 5, 2010

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RedChris79

New member

• Oct 6, 2010

• #8

Behaviour

Hi Niels,
I'm afraid I can't offer you much in the way of behaviour description. It was on a large rocky outcrop and this little chap was perched close to the cliff top. It stayed long enough for me to take two photos and then dissappeared over the edge. Sorry I can't offer anything a little more inspiring!

 

njlarsen

Gallery Moderator

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Oct 6, 2010

• #9

Thanks

Niels