Gillett's Lark
Calendulauda gilletti
A typical-looking medium-sized lark of dry savanna and thornscrub. There is a pale eyebrow between a rufous crown and cheek, and rufous streaking on the breast. The wings show no obvious panel of rufous in flight. Foxy Lark can also be quite rufous, but Gillett’s Lark is separated by its contrasting rufous crown and cheek patch. Its bill is longer and slimmer than Singing Bushlark’s. Its song is a simple phrase of several high-pitched, tinkling notes, usually in a descending pattern.
Taxonomy
Three subspecies are recognized:
- Scientific name
- Calendulauda gilletti
- Authority
- Sharpe, 1895
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Alaudidae
- Genus
- Calendulauda
Range and habitat
Mirafra gilletti has a somewhat wide range, with an estimated global extent of occurrence of 690,000 km2 (266,410 sq mi) over Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia.<p>Its natural habitats are dry savannah and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.[citation needed]
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- rising
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
White-collared Starling
Grafisia torquata
The male is an unusual and beautiful starling that is glossy blue-black with a broad white collar. Females are duller, gray with paler mottling on the underparts. Both sexes have a yellow-orange eye. Found locally in savanna, montane grassland, and areas with a mix of savanna and forest. Often in small flocks, sometimes mixed with other starling species. The male is unmistakable; the female might be confused with other starlings, but is identified by the gray plumage without gloss, the short tail, and the yellow-orange eye. The calls include chirps and short whistles.
Sclater's Crowned-Pigeon
Goura sclaterii
An enormous pigeon of the southern lowland rainforests. Erect, mohicanlike crest is especially long at the back. Blue-gray body with maroon on shoulder and chest, up to the throat. Very large white patch can reach the edge of the wing. Has a deep-bellied appearance and twitches the tail nervously. Forages in small groups on the forest floor. Unmistakable and does not overlap with other crowned-pigeons. Call, loud 2-note booming, sounding like a beating heart.
Steely-vented Hummingbird
Saucerottia saucerottei
Fairly small dark hummingbird, green overall with dark blue tail. Straight, medium-length bill. Sexes similar. Usually seen feeding singly in flowers along forest edge, shrubby second growth, and gardens. Separated from Emeralds by longer bill, blue-and-white vent, bronze patch on rump, and less deeply forked tail.
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