Gray-backed Sparrow-Lark
Eremopterix verticalis
A small, compact finch-like sociable lark that is both resident and nomadic, although movements are poorly understood. The sexes differ in plumage: the male has a gray-brown back and wings with a scalloped pattern, and a black head with bold white ear patches that reach the back of the neck; the streaky female is variable depending on geographic range, but always has a dark belly patch and tends to be paler than other female sparrow-larks. Flocks of 20 to 100 birds (often mixed with other sparrow-larks or with Stark’s Lark) can appear in grassy patches in semi-arid shrublands and fallow fields. They shuffle along in bare patches foraging for seeds and insects.
Taxonomy
Four subspecies are recognized:
- Scientific name
- Eremopterix verticalis
- Authority
- (Smith, A, 1836)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Alaudidae
- Genus
- Eremopterix
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Nomadic movement
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Sierra Madre Sparrow
Xenospiza baileyi
Very local and endangered small sparrow of highlands in central Mexico; endemic. Occurs in bunchgrass within areas of open pine woods; often rather elusive. Feeds on the ground in grassy areas and adjacent plowed fields, but sings from prominent grass stalks. Plumage looks much like Song Sparrow, with gray face, black-streaked breast and flanks, and rusty wings. Song Sparrow is larger and bulkier, with less extensive rusty in wings, and almost always lives in wetter habitats.
Madagascar Owl
Asio madagascariensis
Fairly large, brown owl with long ear tufts. Endemic to Madagascar, where it is found locally in all forest types, and sometimes in scrub and plantations. Usually roosts high in a tree, often in an introduced pine tree. Call is a series of nasal barks, similar to White-browed Owl but less quick and emphatic. Similar in size to Marsh Owl, but has prominent ear tufts and a pale chest with fine streaks. Much larger than Malagasy and Torotoroka Scops-Owls.
Rondonia Warbling-Antbird
Hypocnemis ochrogyna
A relatively small antbird. Males are heavily streaked black and white on the head and back with a lightly streaked breast, and rusty flanks and lower back. Females have a browner tinge to the head and back. Inhabits the understory of humid primary forest and old second growth, favoring tree fall gaps. Sometimes accompanies mixed-species flocks and regularly attends army-ant swarms. The song begins with a clear series of 4-6 notes and finishes with harsh notes.
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