Beesley's Lark
Chersomanes beesleyi
A sociable upright lark with a short decurved bill and a diagnostic short white-tipped tail. The upperparts are dark and scaly; the throat and eyebrow are paler than the warm ear patch and buffy underparts. Resident in treeless short-grass plains in two very restricted patches of habitat of less than ten square kilometers each in the rain shadow of Mt. Meru, where small groups of 3–6 forage for invertebrates and seeds. Flies low with a bobbing flight pattern, generally for only short distances before dropping suddenly to the ground. Calls include a characteristic quavering trill “trrrri-trrri-trrri-trrri” and other soft contact calls.
Identification
Beesley's Lark (Chersomanes beesleyi) is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the Spike-heeled Lark. The Beesley's Lark is found in Northern Tanzania, in some very restricted patches of Afrotropical grassland, mainly composed of Sporobolus ioclados and Digitaria macroblephara on volcanic soil. This species has adapted to arid areas with no tree coverage, thus evolving a specific cryptic plumage. Chersomanes beesleyi is a granivorous bird, meaning it feeds on seeds, but individuals are habitually seen feeding on insects too, like beetles, caterpillars and centipedes, occasionally preying on small reptiles as well.
Taxonomy
Genus: Chersomanes; Family: Alaudidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Chersomanes beesleyi
- Authority
- Benson, 1966
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Alaudidae
- Genus
- Chersomanes
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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