Monotonous Lark Mirafra passerina Scientific name definitions

14 cm; 21–28 g. Medium-small, compact, stout-billed lark with relatively plain, unmarked face. Has buffy supercilium barely contrasting with buffish-brown ear-coverts; buffy brown above, streaked darker brown, with rufous edges of flight-feathers forming rufous wingpanel; white outer tail feathers; throat and belly white (white throat prominent when singing), breast contrastingly buffy with a few dark brown streaks ; eyes dark brown; bill dark horn above, paler below; legs pinkish. Differs from M. cheniana in slightly larger size, less distinct facial markings. Sexes alike. Juvenile is darker above, with buff-fringed feathers, appearing scaly, has breast more heavily spotted.

S Angola E to SW Zambia and W Zimbabwe, S to C Namibia, Botswana and NC & NE South Africa.

Favours rather arid savanna and woodland, including mopane (Colophosper­mum mopane) and acacia (Acacia) woodland; often in areas with sparse grass cover, but found also in denser grassland. After good rainfall, irrupts into semi-desert areas, provided that at least some shrubs present for songposts.

Poorly known. Relatively few records outside breeding season, leading to speculation by some authors that it is an intra-African migrant; this, however, seems implausible, given absence of records outside known breeding range; much lower reporting rates throughout range in winter, suggesting no systematic movements take place, and it seems more likely that species is simply overlooked when not calling. Nomadic, irrupts into areas outside core range in years of above-average rainfall. Even within areas where breeding takes place regularly, pairs seldom occupy the same places in successive years; this may be linked to localized rainfall patterns.

Insects, spiders and seeds. Feeds on ground.

Male song  a short series of rapid, rather croaky notes run together, variously rendered as “for-syrup-is-sweet” or “tell-it-to-him”, each phrase lasting less than 1 second, song repeated monotonously  every 2–5 seconds, usually from perch on top of bush or tree, also in short display-flight.

Breeds during summer rains, Oct–Mar, with peak in Jan. Probably monogamous. Advertising male sings incessantly, day and night, from elevated perch, or in short display flight, rising 15–20 m and then dropping back to perch; singing may cease during hottest part of day, but resumes if clouds cover sun; territory c. 2 ha, but as little as 0·5 ha in some areas. Nest a deep cup enclosed by well-developed domed roof, with side entrance, made from grasses, interior lined with dry grass and stems, almost invariably placed within or against a grass tuft, blades of which typically incorporated into roof. Clutch 2–4 eggs, usually 3; no information on parental duties or incubation and fledging periods.

Not globally threatened. Common to locally abundant after rains; up to 2 pairs/ha in favoured areas. Status at other times of year difficult to assess, as species is probably overlooked when not calling. Probably adversely affected by agriculture, as it avoids crop fields and orchards, but remains common in well-managed rangelands. Also, its savanna habitat is well represented in protected areas; an estimated 500,000 individuals occur in the two largest protected areas in South Africa (Kruger National Park and Kgaligadi Transfrontier Park).