| Bengal bush lark | |
|---|---|
 | |
| At Joka in Kolkata. | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Alaudidae |
| Genus: | Plocealauda |
| Species: | P. assamica |
| Binomial name | |
| Plocealauda assamica (Horsfield, 1840) | |
 | |
The Bengal bush lark (Plocealauda assamica) or Bengal lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in southern Asia.
The Bengal bush lark was formerly placed in the genus Mirafra . It is one of five species moved to a newly erected genus, Plocealauda , based on evidence from a large molecular genetic study published in 2023. [2] [3] The species is monotypic: no subspecies are recognised. [2]
The Bengal bush lark was earlier classified into several races, the Bengal race assamica and the Madras race affinis. These were subsequently split, on the basis of diagnostic song and display characters, into the Jerdon's bush lark (Mirafra affinis) and assamica in the strict sense. Formerly, both the Burmese bush lark and Jerdon's bush lark were considered subspecies of the Bengal bush lark (as M. a. microptera and M. a. affinis respectively) until split to form a separate species. The alternate name "rufous-winged bush lark" may also be used to describe the red-winged lark. [4] Another alternate name for the Bengal bush lark is the rufous-winged lark. [5]
The Bengal bush lark is short-tailed and has a strong stout bill. It is not as long as the skylark, measuring about 15 centimetres in length. It is dark-streaked grey above, and buff below, with spotting on the breast and behind the eye. The wings are rufous.
The song is a repetition of thin disyllabic notes, delivered in a song-flight. [6]
The Bengal bush lark is a resident breeder in the Indian subcontinent and south-east Asia, and found in the countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar and Nepal, with an estimated global extent of occurrence of 100,000-1,000,000 square kilometres. [1]
It is a common bird of dry, open, stony country often with sparse shrubs, and cultivated areas.
It nests on the ground, laying three or four speckled eggs. This lark feeds primarily on seeds and insects, especially the latter during the breeding season.
Jerdon's bush lark or Jerdon's lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in south Asia. This was formerly considered as a subspecies of Mirafra assamica and termed as the Madras bushlark. Two other species in the complex include Mirafra marionae and Mirafra microptera. Jerdon's bush lark is typically very pale on the underside
The rufous-tailed lark, also sometimes called the rufous-tailed finch-lark, is a ground bird found in the drier open stony habitats of India and parts of Pakistan. Like other species in the genus it has a large finch-like bill with a slightly curved edge to the upper mandible. The dull brown colour matches the soil as it forages for grass seeds, grain and insects. Males and females are indistinguishable in the field but during the breeding season, the male has a courtship display that involves flying up steeply and then nose-diving and pulling up in a series of stepped wavy dips accompanied by calling. They forage on the ground in pairs or small groups.
The singing bush lark or Horsfield's bush lark is a species of lark which inhabits grassland throughout most of Australia and much of Southeast Asia. It was described by the American naturalist Thomas Horsfield.
The Indian bush lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in South Asia.
Mirafra is a genus of lark in the family Alaudidae. Some Mirafra species are called "larks", while others are called "bush larks". They are found from Africa through South Asia to Australia.
The collared lark or collared bushlark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in East Africa.
The Indochinese bush lark or Indochinese lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in southeast Asia.
Gillett's lark or Gillett's bushlark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in eastern Africa.
The red-winged lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in eastern Africa.
The Burmese bush lark or Burmese lark, is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in Southeast Asia.
The monotonous lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in southern Africa.
Friedmann's lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in East Africa.
The rusty bush lark, also known as the rusty lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in the Sahel region of north-central Africa.
The flappet lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae that is widespread across Sub-Saharan Africa. The name flappet originates from the distinctive wing flapping sound made during its breeding season.
The rufous-rumped lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in western and central Africa from Mali, Guinea and Sierra Leone to eastern Sudan, South Sudan and north-western Uganda. Its natural habitat is dry savannah.
The dusky lark, also known as the dusky bush lark or rufous-rumped bush lark, is a species of migratory lark in the family Alaudidae. It is native to the southern Afrotropics.
Certhilauda is a genus of larks in the family Alaudidae living in the southern regions of Africa. The genus was formerly named Heterocorys.
The fawn-coloured lark or fawn-coloured bush-lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in south-central Africa.
The Angola lark or Angola bushlark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in southern and central Africa.
Plocealauda is a genus of larks in the family Alaudidae. Introduced in 2023, it contains five species that were formerly placed in the genus Mirafra. The distributions range from the Indian subcontinent to Southeast Asia.
