Oriental Skylark
Alauda gulgula
Chunky brown songbird with a weak crest, typically found on the ground in open fields and meadows. Darker above than below, with fine black streaking on the chest and light chestnut ear coverts with dark border. Very similar to Eurasian Skylark, with which it shares much of its range, but Oriental has buffy, not white, outer tail edges and trailing edge of wing. Breeding males “skylark,” singing a series of variable notes while hovering high above the territory.
识别特征
Oriental skylarks are about 16 cm (6.3 in) long. They have streaked, yellow-brown upper plumage, with white outer tail feathers and a short crest. Both sexes are similar.<p>The Oriental skylark differs from the Eurasian skylark in several aspects. It is a smaller size, with a longer, more pointed bill. The outer tail feathers are more buff, and it lacks the white trailing edge during flight.
分类信息
The Oriental skylark was described by the English soldier and naturalist James Franklin in 1831 and given the binomial name Alauda gulgula. The meaning of the specific epithet gulgula is uncertain but is perhaps a reference to the song as gula is Latin for "throat" or may be the color of the "gulgula" or a sweet which looks like doughnut made in many parts of Central India.<p>Other alternate names for the Oriental skylark include eastern skylark, Indian skylark and lesser skylark.<p>Thirteen subspecies are recognized:
- 学名
- Alauda gulgula
- 命名信息
- Franklin, 1831
- 目
- Passeriformes
- 科
- Alaudidae
- 属
- Alauda
分布与栖息地
This lark breeds across the Sino-Indian region and parts of central Asia. It winters in the southern parts of its range. <p>It is usually found in open areas with short vegetation, such as grasslands, marshes, the edges of lakes, etc. It feeds on seeds and insects. It avoids forested areas, though it may be found in large forest clearings.
- 迁徙
- Complete migrants
行为
These skylarks frequently rocket up into the sky, fluttering and singing before descending down to earth. Male Oriental skylarks may also hover in the air and sing, in order to attract a mate.
保护状况
- 种群趋势
- declining
照片
分布
鸟叫声
其他鸟类
African Pygmy Kingfisher
Ispidina picta
Tiny, gem-like, woodland kingfisher. Note the orange face with a purple cheek mark and the narrow, dark blue crown. Found in the understory of woodland, thickets, and some forests. Inconspicuous bird that sits motionless for long periods before darting after prey. Call is a harsh “tsik,” often given in flight. Similar to Malachite Kingfisher, but smaller, has more orange on the face, and prefers upland habitats. Very similar to African Dwarf-Kingfisher, but pygmy-kingfisher has a dark crown.
Woodland Kingfisher
Halcyon senegalensis
A medium-sized, electric-blue-backed kingfisher with a distinctive bicolored bill: red above and black below. Pairs and singles mostly hunt insects in taller dry woodland, riverine forest, and forest edges. Its loud and characteristic call is a high-pitched “tuuui”, followed by a pause and then a trilling, down-slurred “trrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr”. Sometimes it advertises by sitting upright, extending its wings to show a bold wing pattern, and calling. Almost all of Africa’s other similar kingfishers have a uniformly red-orange (not bicolored) bill, except the Blue-breasted Kingfisher, which differs by being larger, having a complete pale-blue breast band, and preferring denser lowland rainforest.
Coastal Miner
Geositta peruviana
A pale terrestrial bird found only in coastal deserts of Peru. It is pale brownish-gray and lacks strong field marks. Very similar to Grayish Miner; Coastal Miner has a wing stripe, though this is only evident in flight. The two species mostly separate out by range, with Coastal Miner favoring the flat coastal plain and Grayish Miner preferring rocky slopes of hills and mountains. Coastal Miner is also similar to Short-tailed Field Tyrant, but lacks distinct wingbars and rump patch, and has a longer tail. Solitary, usually seen running through barren, sandy areas. Occasionally flies up to perch on a rock or bush, and also performs flight displays.
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