Short-tailed Lark
Spizocorys fremantlii
An unusual and distinctive lark with a large bill and a short tail. Note the black “tear” mark below the eye. Plumage varies geographically; this lark is sandy brown in the northern part of the range and dark brown in the south. Found in dry, short grassland, usually within savanna environments, generally in small flocks. Somewhat similar to Thekla Lark, but has a larger bill and a shorter tail, and lacks a crest. The song includes short series of well-spaced slurred whistles. The typical call is a nasal whistle.
Taxonomy
The short-tailed lark was originally placed in the genus Calendula (which was subsequently renamed to Galerida) and then to the monotypic genus Pseudalaemon before it was re-classified to Spizocorys in 2014.<p>Three subspecies are recognized:
- Scientific name
- Spizocorys fremantlii
- Authority
- (Lort Phillips, 1897)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Alaudidae
- Genus
- Spizocorys
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Nomadic movement
Behavior
The diet of the short-tailed lark consists mostly of vegetable material.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Plain-backed Pipit
Anthus leucophrys
Large pipit with buffy outer tail feathers and a plain or very diffusely streaked back. Found in open areas with very short grass and also sometimes in agricultural fields. Call is a scratchy “tchit”. Song is a series of high then low notes, like a question that is being answered over and over. Often sings from the ground. Extremely similar to Buffy Pipit but separated by the yellowish rather than pink base to the bill.
White-tipped Swift
Aeronautes montivagus
Fairly distinctive swift found in northwestern South America. Medium-sized with slightly notched tail. Blackish overall with a white throat and white band across the lower belly. Namesake white tips on tail can be difficult to see. Compare with Andean Swift, which has longer, more sickle-shaped wings, a deeper forked tail, and more extensive white on the breast. White-tipped is typically found in small flocks at fairly high elevations, from around 1,300 to 2,700 m (higher than Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift), and often does not associate with other swift species. Occurs over a variety of habitats including forest and drier, more open areas.
Rufous-backed Robin
Turdus rufopalliatus
Handsome thrush of tropical woodlands, gardens, and forests in lowlands and lower foothills of West Mexico with isolated populations in Mexico City and Oaxaca City. Feeds on ground, in fruiting trees and bushes and at times in small flocks, often with Great Kiskadees and Social Flycatchers. Like most thrushes, can be rather wary. Note rusty back and breast, blue-gray head, and yellow bill. Some birds in coastal Nayarit ("Grayson’s Thrush") notably paler and duller overall; mainly seen around San Blas, where greatly outnumbered by typical bright birds.
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