Desert Lark Ammomanes deserti Scientific name definitions

15–17 cm; c. 20–30 g. Medium-sized, robust lark  with relatively large head, rather heavy bill  (size changes geographically), longish wings with long primary projection , rather short tail; hind claw short (5–8 mm), slightly curved. Nominate race has short, indistinct buff supercilium, faint pale eyering, faint dark loral stripe; plain dark grey-brown to isabelline-brown above, rump tinged rufous; primaries with rufous outer webs, relatively long and broad outer primary (extends 4–15 mm beyond tips of primary coverts), tertials brownish; rufous-tinged tail feathers becoming blackish-centred towards tips, forming diffuse, triangular-shaped terminal band; throat whitish, underparts buffish, chest with diffuse streaking; iris dark brown; bill pale brown to yellowish, with darker grey-horn culmen and tip; legs dull flesh to greyish or yellowish-brown, often duller on toes. Sexes similar. Juvenile has narrow pale tips on wings and underparts, no blackish band on tail, outer primary longer than adult (11–18 mm beyond tips of primary coverts). Races vary markedly, especially in coloration, which often matches closely that of local soils (tending to be isabelline on sands, reddish to grey on rocks, and blackish in races living in black lava deserts), also in size, with comparatively long wing and long bill in C Sahara, long wing but shorter bill in E of range, and around them races of intermediate measurements, the others being comparatively small: <em>payni</em> is dark pinkish-grey to greyish-cinnamon above  , darkish pink-buff below ; <em>algeriensis</em> is much paler above and below than previous; mya is slightly paler and more sandy than last, lower back and rump less reddish, also larger in size, bill longer and stouter; geyri has generally darker, less sandy (more greyish-brown) plumage than last; whitakeri is darker than previous races, darker grey-brown above (only slight vinous tinge in fresh plumage), rump contrastingly rufous-cinnamon, buffish-brown with strong grey-brown streaks below, resembles nominate but much larger; kollmannspergeri is dark reddish-brown above, rufous below; isabellina is small and pale, generally light sandy to pale buff-brown with greyish or pale olive-grey tinge above, buff or creamy buff below, tail rufous with triangular black area at tip; coxi resembles previous but larger; erythrochroa is much paler than nominate, like previous but somewhat more reddish-yellow; samharensis is much darker, dark grey-brown above, sandy buff below, like nominate but darker throughout; <em>assabensis</em> closely resembles last, but marginally darker; <em>saturata</em> is very like previous two, but bill longer and stouter; annae is darkest race, very dark sooty grey to almost blackish; akeleyi is small, rather pale sandy grey above, rump dark pinkish-buff, pinkish-buff below; azizi is palest race, plumage creamy to pale isabelline; insularis is pale vinaceous grey above; <em>taimuri</em> resembles nominate; cheesmani is dark sandy brown with strong pink tinge above, pinkish-brown below; iranica is rather large, dark grey above, rump dull rufous, greyish-tinged buff-brown below, extensive grey spots and streaks from chin to breast, bill rather short but heavy; darica is slightly paler than last; parvirostris resembles previous but bill smaller; <em>phoenicuroides</em> is slightly browner than last, bill thinner; orientalis is large, rather pale, greyish sandy.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Throughout range occurs in desert or semi-desert, mainly in lowlands. Found on rocky or stony hill slopes and flanking escarpments; avoids flat and sandy landscapes, although sometimes seen in undulating terrain with rocks and stones. Occurs along roadsides in some areas. Mostly lowlands, but to at least 2000 m in mountains, e.g. to above 2250 m in Egypt (Sinai); to 3000 m in Chad (Tibesti).

Resident. Mainly sedentary, although some irregular movements recorded; altitudinal movements in mountain areas, with post-breeding descent to lower elevations. Accidental in Lebanon and Cyprus.

Mixed diet; small seeds and insects taken in highly variable proportions, according to areas and seasons. In Western Sahara during spring mainly seeds, but also small locusts (Orthoptera) and beetles (Coleoptera); in Algeria in spring, seeds; in Turkmenistan in spring and summer, approximately same frequency of seeds and invertebrates, the latter mainly caterpillars, grasshoppers (Acrididae) and beetles. Chicks fed mainly with insects, although some seeds recorded. Forages singly or in small groups, by walking on ground or among stones ; frequently picks in dung; also recorded as feeding in shrubs, also as capturing flying insects. Hard food items broken against rock or other solid surface before swallowing. Drinks water, and large numbers may gather at water sources in summer; also able to survive without water.

Male song  , usually in flight  , also from ground, far-carrying, melodious trilled whistles, “trreooee”. Calls variable, including “chu” while foraging and “chee-lu” or “chee-wu” in flight, rapidly repeated when excited.

Lays Mar–May in N of range, Feb–Apr in S; Apr–Jun in Somalia; 1–2 broods per year. Monogamous; territorial. Male song flight rather brief, either horizontal between two eminences, with deep undulations, or steep ascent from and return to ground, with or without horizontal phase. Nest built by both sexes, on ground beside rock, grass tuft or small shrub, or in exposed site, made from grass stems and other fine plant material, lined with softer material, with rampart of small stones on exposed side, or surrounded by small stones when in open site. Clutch 1–5 eggs, smaller (2–3 eggs) in desert areas (mode 4 in Algeria and Tunisia, 3–4 in Israel); incubation by female alone, period 10–11 days, in Israel 13–14 days; chicks cared for and fed by both parents, nestling period c. 9–11 days, fledging 14–15 days. High rate of nest predation, c. 65 % in some areas.

Not globally threatened. Widespread and common to locally common in many parts of extensive range. Common in much of African range, but apparently rather uncommon in Mauritania; some expansion to N recorded in E Morocco, and recently recorded also in Burkina Faso. Common in Arabia and most of Middle East; numerous in Israel (at least 10,000 pairs in 1980s) and Jordan, breeds in many places in interior Syria (with marked annual fluctuations), widespread in Iraq; small numbers in W Kuwait, breeding only in years of good winter rainfall; first found in Turkey in 1983, restricted to Birecik area. Common in Pakistan; uncommon in India.