Family Larks (Alaudidae)

Least Concern

Arabian Lark (Eremalauda eremodites)

figure, drawing, illustration of Arabian Lark (Eremalauda eremodites)

Taxonomy

French: Alouette d’Arabie German: Arabienlerche Spanish: Alondra árabe
Taxonomy:

Pyrrhulauda eremodites

R. Meinertzhagen

, 1923,

Sheikh Othman, Aden, Yemen

.

Until recently considered conspecific with E. dunni, but differs in its much larger size (effect size for wing 7.59, score 3); stronger dark facial pattern (2); darker streaking on crown (1); and more rufous, grey-toned ground colour above (1). Monotypic.

What do (1) and (2) mean? Learn more about the scoring system.
Distribution:

Nomadic through Jordan (Azraq), N & C Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, S Yemen and SW Oman. Sporadic breeding in S Israel#R#R and Syria#R.

Descriptive notes

14–15 cm. A stocky, round-headed lark with an upright stance, broad rounded and wings and short tail in flight, with sandy-coloured upperparts including black-sided tail and... read more

Voice

Song comprises rising and falling melancholy whistles with mechanical click-whirr, somewhat... read more

Habitat

In Arabia and Israel, prefers plains-level desert habitats defined by hard-packed sand or gravel... read more

Food and feeding

Few data. Diet mainly small seeds (Panicum turgidum and others), but chicks fed with caterpillars in Saudi Arabia, adult and... read more

Breeding

Poorly known. Season determined by rainfall, but mainly late Feb–Jun (especially Mar–May); probably single-brooded, but a single record of... read more

Movements

Resident; some nomadic movements occur, probably related to drought conditions; for example surveys... read more

Status and conservation

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Overall Arabian population very provisionally estimated at c. 2,000,000 pairs, but regional populations within the Peninsula may... read more

Recommended citation

del Hoyo, J., Collar, N. & Kirwan, G.M. (2020). Arabian Lark (Eremalauda eremodites). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/1343871 on 21 February 2020).