Alternative name: Abyssinian Lark
- Calendulauda alopex
Mirafra alopex
Identification
Length 14-16 cm (5½-6¼ in)
- Long pale supercilium
- Dark ear-coverts and lores
Variations
The two subspecies are distinctly different:
- M. a. alopex has plain rufous upperparts; similar to Collared Lark, but lacks the black collar and black wings of that species.
- M. a. intercedens is heavily streaked and has a white eyebrow; differs from Gillett's Lark in having rufous (rather than brown) wing panels, and darker streaks on the breast.
Distribution
Africa: found in Somalia, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.
Taxonomy
Some authorities (e.g. [2]) have included this species in Fawn-coloured Lark.
Formerly placed in genus Mirafra.
Subspecies
Clements recognises the following subspecies [1]:
- C. a. alopex: Northern Somalia and extreme eastern Ethiopia
- C. a. intercedens: Eastern and southern Ethiopia, adjacent Somalia, eastern Uganda, Kenya, northern Tanzania
Habitat
Dry grassland and savanna. Usually associated with sandy, red soils.
Behaviour
Diet
They feed on the ground, looking for insects and seeds.
Vocalisation
Sings from a perch in a bush or tree; the song is jumbled and chirpy. In flight, utters a sharp tchwerp.
Gallery
Click on photo for larger image
Subspecies M. a. intercedens
Photo © by Trevor Hardaker
Abijata Shalla Lakes National Park, Ethiopia, May 2009
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Dickinson, EC, ed. 2003. The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. 3rd ed., with updates to December 2007 (Corrigenda 7). Princeton: Princeton Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0691117010
- Sinclair, I and P Ryan. 2003. Birds of Africa South of the Sahara. Princeton: Princeton Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0691118154
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved Aug 2018)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Foxy Lark. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 4 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Foxy_Lark
