Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark
Eremopterix leucotis
A small, compact finch-like sociable lark that is both resident and nomadic, although movements are poorly understood. The sexes differ in plumage: the distinctive male has a rich chestnut back and wings and a black head with bold white circular ear-patches; the streaky female is variable depending on geographic range, but always has a dark belly patch. Flocks of up to 50 birds (often mixed with Chestnut-headed Sparrow-Lark in NE Africa) can appear in open grassland and arid savanna, preferring recently burned turf, open fields, and gravel plains. They shuffle along in bare patches foraging for seeds and insects.
Identification
This is a small lark at 11 cm. The male is striking, with solid black underparts and head apart from brilliant white patches on the nape and behind the eyes. The upperparts and wings are chestnut with some dark streaking. The thick bill is grey.<p>The female chestnut-backed sparrow-lark is a drabber bird with heavily streaked buff-white underparts and head, and a white nape collar. The upperparts are chestnut with mottling. Young birds are like the female.
Taxonomy
The chestnut-backed sparrow-lark was originally placed in the genus Loxia. It was later moved to the Lark family Alaudidae under the genus Eremopterix which includes all other sparrow-lark species. Alternate names for this species include: chestnut-backed finch-lark and white-cheeked sparrow-lark.<p>Five subspecies are recognized:
- Scientific name
- Eremopterix leucotis
- Authority
- (Stanley, 1814)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Alaudidae
- Genus
- Eremopterix
Range and habitat
This lark is a bird of open dry habitats such as open grassland and arid savanna, preferring recently burned turf, open fields, and gravel plains. They shuffle along in bare patches foraging for seeds and insects. They are both resident and nomadic, although movements are poorly understood. It is often found in mixed flocks with chestnut-headed sparrow-lark where their ranges overlap in NE Africa.<p>Geographic range:<p>•Eremopterix leucotis: South Sudan to Ethiopia, Eritrea, and northwestern Somalia
- Migration
- Nomadic
Behavior
Migration pattern: Nomadic.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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