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
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Dendrortyx leucophrys
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Leach's Storm-Petrel
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Raiatea Fruit-Dove
Ptilinopus chrysogaster
An unmistakable dove with a bright silver head, neck, and chest, dark green wings, a light green belly, and a yellowish tint to the forehead. Bill is bright banana yellow. Unique within its range. Call is a typical dove-like cooing, starting with “wooo wooo” followed by sounds likened to a taunting laughter.
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