Gray's Lark
Ammomanopsis grayi
A stocky, pale, plain buffy-white lark that frequently matches the color of the stony terrain it lives in. Its dark-tipped pale gray-blue bill and white-fringed dark tail distinguish it. Pairs and flocks of up to 30 are resident and nomadic in barren gravel plains with sparse cover of grass and shrubs. Mostly at night, it sings a soft tinkling “tink tink” with upslurred “swee” whistles interspersed. Gray’s Lark is most similar to Tractrac Chat, but the latter flicks its wings and has a pale rump; Stark’s Lark has a crest and streaked upperparts, and female sparrow-larks have dark belly patches.
Identification
Gray's lark (Ammomanopsis grayi) is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in south-western Africa in its natural habitat of hot deserts.
Taxonomy
Gray's lark was originally described as a species within the genus Alauda. It was then placed in the sister genus Ammomanes until re-classified in 2009 by the IOC into the monotypic genus Ammomanopsis. Some authorities still consider the species as Ammomanes grayi. Other names for Gray's lark include Gray's desert lark and Gray's sand lark.<p>Two subspecies are recognized:
- Scientific name
- Ammomanopsis grayi
- Authority
- (Wahlberg, 1855)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Alaudidae
- Genus
- Ammomanopsis
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Nomadic
Behavior
Migration pattern: Nomadic.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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