Rufous-naped Lark - BirdForum Opus

Photo © by GarethH
Rietvlei Dam NR, Gauteng, South Africa, June 2006

Mirafra africana

Identification

Adult with juvenile on the right
Photo © by mikemik
Ngorongoro, Tanzania, May 2018

16–20 cm (6¼-8 in)
A large Lark that varies geographically, but rufous wings and a short crest are consistent features.

Similar species

Similar and often difficult to distinguish from Singing Bushlark. The Bushlark has:

white outer tail feathers with a dark central tail
a shorter bill with a more rounded culmen. Its gape flange may be more or less sharply angled downwards at the base
a more round-headed appearance
notably darker ear coverts
a generally broader pale supercilium which may be (somewhat) flared behind the eye
mantle feathers which tend to be dark with only a pale fringe (in "typical" plumage). However, Rufous-naped Lark's feathers can approach this appearance

Distribution

Sub-Saharan Africa:
Western Africa: Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola
Eastern Africa: Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi
Southern Africa: Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesotho, eSwatini

Taxonomy

Sharpe's Lark was formerly included in this species.

Subspecies

There is considerable geographic variation; 22 subspecies have been recognised¹.

M. a. kurrae: Sudan (Kurra and Darfur provinces)
M. a. bamendae: West Cameroon
M. a. stresemanni: North Cameroon (Ngaoundéré)
M. a. henrici: Guinea to Liberia
M. a. batesi: Niger to Nigeria
M. a. ruwenzoria: East Democratic Republic of the Congo to south-western Uganda
M. a. athi: Central Kenya (Nairobi and Nakuru) to north-eastern Tanzania
M. a. harterti: East Kenya (Ukamba)
M. a. occidentalis: West Angola (Huila escarpment north to Kisama)
M. a. gomesi: East Angola (Macondo) to north-western Zambia (Kabompo)
M. a. kabalii: North East Angola (Luiacana) and western Zambia (Balovale)
M. a. pallida: Namibia (Windhoek north to Kaokoveld and Ovamboland)
M. a. ghansiensis: Namibia and western Botswana
M. a. chapini: South Democratic Republic of the Congo and north-western Zambia
M. a. transvaalensis: South East Botswana to Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Malawi and South Africa
M. a. isolata: Malawi (Mangochi District)
M. a. grisescens: West Zambia to north-western Zimbabwe and northern Botswana
M. a. africana: South Natal to eastern Cape Province
M. a. tropicalis: South Uganda to western Kenya and northern Tanzania
M. a. nigrescens: North East Zambia (Lundazi) and southern Tanzania (Ukinga and Njombe)
M. a. nyikae: Nyika Plateau (easterb Zambia and Malawi)
M. a. malbranti: Central and southern Democratic Republic of the Congo (Djambala, Petianga and Kasai) to south-eastern Gabon

Habitat

The Rufous-naped Lark is found in a wide range of savanna and grassland habitats.

Behaviour

Diet

Solitary or in pairs. Forages on the ground, mainly for invertebrates, but also for seeds.

Breeding

Monogamous and territorial. The nest is a cup of dry grass with a partial or complete dome, built on the ground, normally against a grass tuft. Two to three eggs are laid (July to April in southern Africa).

Vocalisation

Mainly a tree tree-leeoo whistle.

References

Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2022. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
Gill, F, D Donsker, and P Rasmussen (Eds). 2023. IOC World Bird List (v 13.2). Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.13.2. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/
Sibley, CG and BL Monroe. 1996. Birds of the World, on diskette, Windows version 2.0. Charles G. Sibley, Santa Rosa, CA, USA.
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
Birdforum thread discussing the taxonomy of Sharpe's Lark

List of references

Recommended Citation

BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Rufous-naped Lark. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 23 March 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Rufous-naped_Lark

External Links

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