Sun Lark Galerida modesta Scientific name definitions

14–15 cm; 18–22 g. Medium-sized, rather dark lark, heavily streaked above and on breast, with short erectile crest, rather small bill  . Nominate race has creamy to buffish lores and supercilium , narrow dark eyestripe, brown ear-coverts, thin dark malar streak; crown and upperparts rufous to sandy rufous, blackish feather centres forming prominent streaks on crown, mantle and back, rump plainer and tinged cinnamon; wing-coverts blackish-brown with broad pale rufous margins, whitish tips; flight-feathers dark brown, narrowly edged rufous, tail blackish-brown, rufous edges of outer tail; throat whitish, breast buffy to pale rufous with heavy black streaking, belly and flanks slightly paler buff; underwing-coverts and axillaries rufous-buff; eyes dark brown; bill blackish-horn, whitish base of lower mandible; legs dark flesh-brown. Differs from Mirafra rufocinnamomea in slightly larger size, much more streaked plumage. Sexes alike. Juvenile has white feather tips above, appearing spotted, white margins of wing-coverts form two pale wingbars. Races differ primarily in plumage colour, tending to be paler in N, also in size: bucolica is darker than nominate; <em>struempelli</em> is larger than previous, also darker and more heavily black-streaked, with broader rufous edgings above; nigrita is smaller than last, darker and with narrower rufous edgings.

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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.

Open countryside, often rocky hills, where prefers areas of short grass and open rock; also occupies wide range of sparse grassy habitats, including fields and pastures. Often found on bare ground near villages and on sports fields.

Male song, in flight or sometimes from low perch, a series of sweetly whistled notes  and buzzing sounds, often incorporating elements of songs of other birds, including bulbuls (Pycnonotidae) and swallows (Hirundinidae); also short, rather tuneless series of notes lasting 1–2 seconds, both from ground and in flight. Weak “chit-chit” when flushed.