Spike-heeled Lark
Chersomanes albofasciata
A sociable lark with a decurved bill, upright posture, and a diagnostic short white-tipped tail. The plumage is highly variable, but the throat is always paler than the underparts, which vary from buff to rusty; eastern populations are darker than western ones. Small groups of 3 to 10 birds are resident in desert, semi-desert, and grassland, where they forage for invertebrates and seeds in open country with sparse low bushes. The species flies low with a bobbing flight pattern, and generally for distances of only 10 to 50 meters, before dropping suddenly to the ground. Gives a characteristic quavering trill “trrrri-trrri-trrri-trrri” and other soft contact calls.
Identification
The spike-heeled lark (Chersomanes albofasciata) is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in southern Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland.
Taxonomy
Genus: Chersomanes; Family: Alaudidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Chersomanes albofasciata
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Alaudidae
- Genus
- Chersomanes
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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