Allodola di Friedmann

Mirafra pulpa

Una piccola allodola compatta con parti superiori marrone scuro che appaiono squamate nel piumaggio fresco, una corona striata che può essere sollevata come una cresta, un sopracciglio fulvo indistinto, una gola pallida sorprendente e un ventre pallido con striature scure sul petto. Il becco è bicolore: pallido sotto con una cresta scura sulla mandibola superiore. La coda è prevalentemente scura con penne esterne bianche che sono cospicue in volo. I movimenti di questa allodola molto localizzata sono poco conosciuti, ma piccoli gruppi sono probabilmente migranti parziali e nomadi in praterie dense con cespugli sparsi; è probabile che spesso passi inosservata quando non canta. La migliore caratteristica identificativa è il canto diagnostico, un fischio stridente e forte “wheeeeoooo” a nota singola, ripetuto incessantemente ogni due secondi per minuti interi.

Identificazione

It is best identified by its distinctive song; a long, drawn-out singular note, hoo-ee-oo (with slight stress on the ee), repeated at 1 or 2 second intervals. It is heard more often at night, and given while atop a bush or during undulating display flights.

Tassonomia

Formerly, some authorities considered Friedmann's lark to be a subspecies of the singing bush lark. Alternate names for the species include Friedmann's bush lark, rufous lark and Sagon lark.

Nome scientifico
Mirafra pulpa
Autorità
Friedmann, 1930
Ordine
Passeriformi
Famiglia
Alaudidae
Genere
Mirafra

Areale e habitat

Friedmann's lark is found in southern Ethiopia, central and south-eastern Kenya, and north-eastern Tanzania, but its population and exact range are very poorly known. The type specimen was collected in Ethiopia (from the Konso-Sagan area) in 1992, having been seen only one time since, in 1998; but most of what is known comes primarily from data collected in Tsavo East and West National Parks, in Kenya. There are also a few records from Tanzania, from Mkomazi Game Reserve, south of Arusha.<p>In general, the natural habitats of Friedmann's lark are subtropical or tropical dry lowland grasslands. Being aloof and shy, it apparently chooses the moister (or less dry), ranker-growing of these areas, and where it can find it, those with more bush-cover. This is in contrast to the more dry, and more open environs preferred by many other species of lark.

Migrazione
Nomadic movement

Comportamento

It is nearly always witnessed only during certain times of year (in Tanzania, during rainy season, for example), to the exclusion of other times; and often amongst other migrant species. These observations would seem to suggest that it is a migratory bird, but more corroborating data is needed to make a definitive determination.<p>Friedmann's lark appears to subsist mainly on small beetles, grasshoppers and other insects, as well as grass seeds.

Conservazione

Tendenza della popolazione
declining

Foto

Distribuzione

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