White-tailed Lark
Mirafra albicauda
A small, compact lark with blackish upperparts that appear very scaly in fresh plumage, a bold whitish eyebrow that starts in front of the eye, and a pale belly that contrasts strongly with blotchy blackish breast streaks. The stout bill is bicolored: pale below and dark on the tip and ridge of the upper mandible. Tail is mostly dark with bold white outer feathers that are conspicuous in flight. Resident in cropped grassland, mostly on black cotton soils, preferring lake edges. Somewhat furtive, preferring to dart into cover rather than parade in the open. Sings a rambling set of whistles, churrs, and chips in a protracted aerial display, lacking trills and with a simpler structure than Singing Bushlark. Other similar larks are less strongly contrasting, with more tawny-gray tones in the plumage.
Taxonomy
Alternate names for the white-tailed lark include northern white-tailed bush lark, northern white-tailed lark and white-tailed bush lark.
- Scientific name
- Mirafra albicauda
- Authority
- Reichenow, 1891
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Alaudidae
- Genus
- Mirafra
Range and habitat
The white-tailed lark is found in western Chad, eastern Sudan, north-eastern South Sudan, south-central Ethiopia, and from Uganda and western Kenya to central Tanzania. It occurs mainly around Lake Chad and Lake Victoria.<p>The natural habitat of M. albicauda is tropical to subtropical, seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Common Poorwill
Phalaenoptilus nuttallii
Small, compact night bird with short wings and tail. Intricately patterned with shades of gray; flight feathers are barred with rufous. Males have white corners on tail, females have browner tail corners. Named for its song: a whistled "poor-WILL," sometimes with a faint third note. Strictly nocturnal; more often heard than seen. Prefers rocky desert slopes with some dry vegetation; sometimes perches prominently when singing but also sings from the ground.
Secretarybird
Sagittarius serpentarius
A distinctive, tall, long-legged, crane-like raptor with unique quill-like plumes on its head and bright-red facial skin. In flight, the dark edge to the hind wing, diamond-shaped tail, and long spatulate tail feathers make it unmistakable. It prefers open rangeland and savanna, where it strides about hunting for reptiles, small mammals, and insects, which it bludgeons with its powerful legs.
Yellow-billed Nuthatch
Sitta solangiae
Small stunningly beautiful nuthatch of tropical and subtropical evergreen forest, typically in hilly areas and valleys. Back and wings are bright blue, and underparts are gray. Purplish face is marked by an elegant inky black eyebrow and forehead; bright yellow bill and eye ring. Roves around in small groups or pairs, sometimes joining mixed flocks, usually moving in the canopy or middle levels. Call is a dry, brisk “chit”.
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