Brown Songlark
Cincloramphus cruralis
Large brown songbird with long tail and long, strong legs. Males grayish with brown-edged feathers above, and very dark gray belly, breast, and face in breeding plumage. Female smaller, similar to nonbreeding male. Distinctive display flight: male climbs high in the air, then parachutes down with wings held up at an angle and with legs dangling. Found across much of Australia, less common in the southeast in drier agricultural and open grassland areas. Perches on fence posts. Distinctive song a scratchy five-note phrase.
Identification
Male brown songlarks are 23–25 cm long versus 18–19 cm for females, and may weigh 2.3 times as much. The average weight of males was listed as 74.8 g (2.64 oz) and that of females is 32.4 g (1.14 oz). They are probably the most sexually dimorphic passerine in the world in size difference, as well as likely the largest species in the family Locustellidae. In general, the birds have a dusky pale-streaked with darker brown plumage and pale eyebrows. The underparts are brownish-white in the female, darker brown in the male. Breeding males may display a cinnamon colour. The eyes and bill are black, and the legs grey. Juveniles are smaller and paler with pinkish-brown bills. The call has been described as loud and creaky. The male is the principal singer, calling from perches or when rising above breeding territory.
Taxonomy
The brown songlark was described by Nicholas Aylward Vigors and Thomas Horsfield as Megalurus cruralis in 1827. John Gould placed it in the genus Cincloramphus in 1843, describing it as C. cantatoris.However, the specific name of the former authors took priority. Along with most Old World Warblers, this species was formerly placed in Sylviidae sensu lato, but molecular phylogenetic studies demonstrated that this broad grouping is not a cohesive evolutionary lineage and warbler species were assigned to various families.<p>An alternative generic name Cinclorhamphus is derived from Greek words cinclus/κιγκλος "wagtail" and ramphos/ραμφος "beak" and cruralis from the Latin root crur- "leg, shin".
- Scientific name
- Cincloramphus cruralis
- Authority
- (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Locustellidae
- Genus
- Cincloramphus
Range and habitat
The bird is found throughout Australia, except for parts of the far north and Tasmania. There are particularly dense populations in the southern parts of the country. It prefers open pastures and grassy scrub, and feeds on seeds and insects. The species is highly nomadic. Local numbers fluctuate depending on rainfall and the bird will often flee from drought-affected areas.<p>The brown songlark has a large range, between 1,000,000 and 10,000,000 km²; while population size has not been quantified the bird is reported to be common. The IUCN thus lists it as a species of least concern and it is considered "secure" by Australian authorities.
- Breeding range
- AU : Australia (except far n and Tasmania), breeding mostly in s
- Non-breeding range
- to c Australia
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Mindoro Bleeding-heart
Gallicolumba platenae
A very rare medium-sized ground dove of lowland and foothill forest floor on Mindoro. Iridescent bluish on the head and back of the neck, with a purplish back, a blackish wing with white triangular marks on the shoulder, a white throat and underparts, and a small red “bleeding heart” in the center of the chest. Unlikely to be mistaken if seen well. The only other dove likely to flush from the ground would be Asian Emerald Dove. Apparently gives a low “croo croo” call.
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Lampornis amethystinus
Rather large hummingbird of humid evergreen and pine-oak forest in mountains. Fairly common, but typically inconspicuous in shady understory and at edges, where feeds at all levels on flowers. Despite the exciting name, often looks rather drab and grayish overall with a dark mask, whitish eyestripe, and dusky throat (amethyst gorget rarely catches the light). Note the blackish tail with small, pale gray corners.
Paint-billed Crake
Mustelirallus erythrops
A fairly small rail, mostly gray below and olive-brown above with bicolored bill (red base, yellow tip) and pinkish legs. Black and white barring on vent can be difficult to see. Shy and typically uncommon to rare. Most often found in dense marshy habitats, including flooded rice fields and pastures. However, not necessarily tied to water, and can also be found in moist forest with dense understory. Even its vocalizations aren’t well-known, but makes a low, fast, cooing trill.
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