Family Larks (Alaudidae)
Least Concern
Rusty Lark (Mirafra rufa)
Taxonomy
French: Alouette rousse German: Rostlerche Spanish: Alondra rufa
Other common names:
Rusty Bushlark
Taxonomy:
Mirafra rufa
Lynes
, 1920,Juga Juga, 3000 feet [c. 915 m], 15 miles [c. 24 km] ENE of El Fasher, Darfur, Sudan
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Subspecies and Distribution
M. r. nigriticola
Bates, 1932 – E Mali E to WC Niger.
M. r. rufa
Lynes, 1920 – SC Chad and W Sudan.
M. r. lynesi
C. H. B. Grant & Mackworth-Praed, 1933 – C Sudan.
Descriptive notes
13–15 cm. Small to medium-sized lark with narrow buff supercilium, dark-streaked rufous ear-coverts. Nominate race has crown and upperparts rufous, variably streaked... read more
Voice
Poorly documented; male song given in aerial display, described as “pleasing”.
Habitat
Semi-arid savanna plains and open Combretum woodland on rocky ridges.
Food and feeding
Insects, including termites (Isoptera), and seeds. Forages on ground, singly or in pairs.
Breeding
Little known. Display recorded in May–Jul, also Sept in Chad. Male performs protracted aerial displays, dropping steeply to ground or... read more
Movements
Apparently moves into areas after rain, but this possibly a reflection of its greater... read more
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened. Locally common in some parts of range, but generally scarce. A poorly known species.
Close relationship with M. gilletti suggested by some authors, but no data on genetics for either species; Calendulauda poecilosterna (which has been sampled molecularly) suggested as third member of same grouping, which if confirmed would require transfer of present species and M. gilletti to Calendulauda#R. Three subspecies recognized.