Identification
A medium-sized, stocky lark with a long heavy bill and scalloped upperparts, giving it a scaly appearance. The short rufous crest can be raised; face, eyebrow, and underparts are tawny with fine streaking on the upper breast. In flight it has white outer tail feathers. Pairs are locally common residents in montane grassland, dambos (seasonally flooded wetlands), and moist grassland. The aerial display and song are diagnostic; the male rises some 25m into the air while singing a melodious trilling song that rolls up-and-down in pitch “zi-zi-zu-zu-zu-zi-zi-zi”, before parachuting to the ground. Also calls from mounds before making a short low hop-flight with associated “prrt-prrt” sounds of mechanical wing-rattling. Also, some mimicry and loud “tew-chi-chi-tew” calls. Angola Lark is smaller and darker than Rufous-naped and larger than Flappet Lark, with a more robust bill and paler underparts.