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[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Spizocorys]] | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Spizocorys]] | ||
Latest revision as of 20:08, 21 August 2023
- Spizocorys starki
Eremalauda starki
Identification
Length 13-14 cm, mass 14-23 g. A small, pale lark.
Adult: The upper parts are pale brown with dark brown streaks. The lores, eyebrows, and underparts are whitish; the breast has a few brown speckles. The bill is pale and fairly heavy. The eyes are brown and the legs and feet are pinkish white.
Distribution
North-western South Africa, Namibia, coastal south-western Angola, and extreme south-western Botswana.
Taxonomy
Recent molecular analysis (Tieleman et al., 2002) supports the inclusion of this species in the genus Spizocorys, as done by Sinclair & Ryan (2003), De Juana et al. (2004), Hockey et al. (2005) and Clements (2007). It was formerly placed in Eremalauda.
Two subspecies have been described:
- S. s. starki; and
- S. s. gregaria.
However, differences between these races are small, and they are not recognised by Kieth et al. (1992) and Hockey et al. (2005).
Habitat
Sparse, arid to semi-arid grasslands and shrublands; gravelly and stony surfaces are preferred.
Behaviour
Found singly, in pairs or in flocks; thousands may congregate where grass emerges after rain. Forages on the ground, mainly for seeds, but also for arthropods and green plant material.
Breeding: Monogamous and territorial. The nest is a hollow excavated in the soil and lined with white inflorescences and awns of grasses. Two to four eggs are laid, mainly March to August after late summer rains, but breeding may occur at other times in response to rain.
References
Clements JF. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2008. Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019
De Juana E, Suarez F & Ryan PG. 2004. Family Alaudidae (Larks). In: del Hoyo J, Elliott A & Christie D (eds) Handbook of the Birds of the World Vol. 9. Lynx, Barcelona. Pp. 496-541. ISBN 8487334695
Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ & Ryan PG (eds) 2005. Robert's Birds of Southern Africa, 7th edition. John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town, South Africa. ISBN 0620340533
Sinclair I & Ryan P. 2003. Birds of Africa south of the Sahara. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0620207299
Tieleman BI, Williams JB & Bloomer P. 2002. Adaptation of metabolism and evaporative water loss along an aridity gradient. Proceedings of the Royal Society London B 270, 207-214.
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
