Horsfield's Bush Lark - BirdForum Opus

Alternative name: Singing Bushlark^[1], Australasian Bushlark; Australasian Lark

Photo by Tom Tarrant
near Texas, Queensland, Australia

Mirafra javanica

Identification

12-15cm.

• Brownish streaky upperparts
• Whitish throat
• Streaked chest
• Rufous wing patch
  

Sexes alike

Distribution

Asia and Australasia:
Southern China, Myanmar, southern and central Thailand, Indochina, Vietnam, Philippines, Java, Bali, Lesser Sundas, New Guinea, northwestern, northern, eastern, and southeastern Australia.

Taxonomy

Subspecies^[1]

There are 16 subspecies:

• M. j. williamsoni (beaulieui):

• Local in southern China, Myanmar, Thailand, Indochina and southern Vietnam

• M. j. philippinensis:

• Northern Philippines (Luzon and Mindoro)

• M. j. mindanensis:

• Southern Philippines (Mindanao)

• M. j. javanica:

• Southern Borneo, Java and Bali

• M. j. parva:

• Lesser Sundas (Lombok, Sumbawa, Sumba and Flores)

• M. j. timorensis:

• Eastern Lesser Sundas (Sawu and Timor)

• M. j. aliena (sepikiana):

• Northern, north-eastern and southern New Guinea

• M. j. woodwardi:

• Extreme north-western Western Australia

• M. j. halli:

• Northern Western Australia

• M. j. forresti: (subrufescens):

• North-eastern Western Australia

• M. j. melvillensis:

• Melville and Bathurst Islands (Northern Territory)

• M. j. soderbergi:

• Northern Territory (North Northern Territory)

• M. j. rufescens:

• Eastern Northern Territory to north-western Queensland and north-eastern South Australia

• M. j. athertonensis:

• North-eastern Queensland (Atherton-Evelyn Tablelands)

• M. j. horsfieldii (keasti):

• South-east South Australia

• M. j. secunda:

• Southern South Australia

Habitat

Open grassland with scattered bushes, salty marshes, edges of cultivated fields and dried rice fields.

Behaviour

Diet

The diet includes seeds and arthropods.

Breeding

It builds a domed nest in shelter of tussocks and 2-4 eggs are laid.

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. Answers.com
3. BF Member observations

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2021) Horsfield's Bush Lark. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 14 May 2021 from https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/Horsfield%27s_Bush_Lark

Not to be confused with the African species Mirafra cantillans

External Links

Search for photos of Horsfield's Bush Lark in the gallery