Karoo Long-billed Lark
Certhilauda subcoronata
A large, slender lark with a long, thin decurved bill and long legs. Features can be variable, but generally the species has rufous upperparts, grayish coloration on the back of the neck, and a lightly streaked chest. As the similar-looking long-billed larks have separate ranges, location is a key factor in identification. This species strides purposefully through dry open shrubland, running quickly before pausing to dig in soil or pick at a shrub for invertebrate prey, seeds, or fruit. In a characteristic display the male flies low to the ground before flying directly up 10 to 15 meters, and then closing its wings and plummeting toward the ground while typically emitting a two-note “hit-seeeoooouuu” whistle, the second note descending. This call and similar ones can also be given from the ground. Most larks in the same range are smaller and more compact, with smaller bills and shorter legs.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Certhilauda subcoronata
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Alaudidae
- Genus
- Certhilauda
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Bay Antpitta
Grallaria capitalis
Dark antpitta found in cloud forest along the east slope of the Andes in central Peru. Much of its range is remote and rarely visited by birders. Adult is similar to both Chestnut Antpitta and Rufous Antpitta, but note the larger size, gray crown, thin eye-ring, unbarred belly patch, and voice. The rarely-seen juvenile is even darker with buff and gray barring and a spotted crown. Inhabits forest understory, especially where there is abundant bamboo. Stays on the ground when not singing and usually very tough to see. Song is a quick series that consists of a short note followed by two to five slightly lower notes.
Carib Grackle
Quiscalus lugubris
Common in northern South America and the Lesser Antilles. Found in a variety of open habitats, including around towns and cities, especially abundant along the coast. Male is glossy black with a pointed bill and a yellow eye. Tail is fairly long and wedge-shaped. Females are dark grayish-brown with slightly paler on underparts and a yellow eye. Smaller and shorter-tailed than Great-tailed Grackle.
Sri Lanka Hanging-Parrot
Loriculus beryllinus
Tiny, short-tailed, bright green parrot. Both sexes show red bill and red rump, while male also possesses a scarlet crown. Typically found in ones or twos in the canopy of forests in the Wet Zone, but also wooded areas outside of that zone. Confined to Sri Lanka, where the extremely small size and short tail make it easily identified from all other parrots on the island. Often given flight call is a metallic “zit-zit-zit”. Can also be given singly, as a drawn out “zeeet”.
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