Gillett's Lark Mirafra gilletti Scientific name definitions

16–17 cm; 20–26 g. Medium-sized lark with rufous-brown upperparts, broad whitish supercilium  and well-marked face . Plumage is largely rufous-brown above; upperparts variably streaked dark brown, rump and uppertail-coverts a greyer brown and contrasting somewhat with more rufous back; greater and median wing-coverts dark brown, broadly fringed rufous-brown; flight-feathers brown with narrow buff edges, tertials broadly edged rufous-brown; tail brown, central feathers broadly edged rufous; whitish below, breast  with rufous streaks, sometimes darker brown centrally; eyes light brown; bill dark brown above, paler below; legs pale brown. Sexes alike. Juvenile unknown. Race arorihensis is paler and more rufous above than nominate; race <em>degodiensis</em> slightly smaller, has paler and less rufous upperparts, less heavily streaked breast; from Calendulauda alopex mainly by lack of rufous wingpanel, also slightly larger size, less streaking above, no contrast between back and rump, buff (not rufous) edges of flight-feathers, paler breast streaks, and different habitat; from structurally similar Calendulauda poecilosterna by more patterned upperparts, less mottled breast.

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Semi-arid savanna and scrub, typically on hard substrates, often near rocky areas; absent from soft, sandy soils to which Calendulauda alopex is confined. In Somalia, avoids areas with annual rainfall less than 75 mm or more than 450 mm, being replaced in more mesic areas in S by Calendulauda poecilosterna. Race degodiensis found in arid acacia (Acacia) scrub with little ground cover, at 300–400 m elevation. Overall species occurs from near sea-level to 1500 m.

Beetles (Coleoptera), caterpillars  , grasshoppers (Acrididae) and seeds. Feeds on ground, typically remaining in shade of bushes during most of day. Occurs singly or in pairs.

Little known; reported as calling “dsee-dsit” from elevated perch , usually top of small tree or bush; also gives longer song  in aerial display.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Fairly common, but thinly distributed and nowhere abundant. Present in Awash National Park, Ethiopia. No obvious threats. However, race degodiensis was previously considered a separate species and treated as Vulnerable, confined to the Jubba and Shabeelle Valleys EBA; it is known from only a very small area of S Ethiopia, having estimated total range of 430 km². Global population estimate of fewer than 1000 individuals, but this extremely tenuous; may well be more common. No recent systematic searches of the general region, which is troubled by banditry.