Botha's lark

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Botha's lark
Spizocorys fringillaris 64720937.jpg
Spizocorys fringillaris and Mirafra fasciolata damarensis 1875 (cropped).jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Alaudidae
Genus: Spizocorys
Species:
S. fringillaris
Binomial name
Spizocorys fringillaris
(Sundevall, 1850)
Botha's lark
IUCN range
  Extant (resident)
Spizocorys fringillaris distribution map.png
Synonyms
  • Alauda fringillaris
  • Botha difficilis
  • Botha fringillaris
  • Calandrella fringillaris
  • Spizocorys difficilis

Botha's lark (Spizocorys fringillaris) is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae.

Contents

It is endemic to South Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland and pastureland. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Taxonomy and systematics

Botha's lark was originally placed in the genus Alauda . Formerly, some authorities have classified it within either the genus Calandrella or the monotypic genus Botha. An alternate species name of difficilis has also been used to describe Botha's lark. [2] [3]

Behaviour and ecology

Food and feeding

The diet of Botha's lark includes seeds and insects, including beetles and moths. [4]

Spizocorys fringillaris 64720944.jpg

Threats and conservation

Botha's lark is assessed as Endangered according to SANBI and the IUCN due to the decline of less than 2500 mature individuals in less than 20 locations, its localised geographic range, and loss of habitat due to farming. [5] [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>Alauda</i> Genus of birds

Alauda is a genus of larks found across much of Europe, Asia and in the mountains of north Africa, and one of the species endemic to the islet of Raso in the Cape Verde Islands. Further, at least two additional species are known from the fossil record. The current genus name is from Latin alauda, "lark". Pliny the Elder thought the word was originally of Celtic origin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Large-billed lark</span> Species of bird

The large-billed lark or southern thick-billed lark is a small passerine bird found in southern Africa. The name "large-billed lark" may also refer to Bradfield's lark. The name "thick-billed lark" more commonly refers to the species of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sabota lark</span> Species of bird

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Short-tailed lark</span> Species of bird

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pink-billed lark</span> Species of bird

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<i>Spizocorys</i> Genus of birds

Spizocorys is a genus of African larks in the family Alaudidae found in southern and eastern Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Obbia lark</span> Species of bird

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Masked lark</span> Species of bird

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sclater's lark</span> Species of bird

Sclater's lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in Namibia and South Africa. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bar-tailed lark</span> Species of bird

The bar-tailed lark or bar-tailed desert lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. Two other species, the rufous-tailed lark and the Cape clapper lark are both also sometimes referred to using the name bar-tailed lark. It is found from Morocco to Pakistan. Its natural habitat is hot deserts. This is in many places a common species, but elsewhere rather less common. It has a very wide distribution and faces no obvious threats, but surveys have shown that it is slowly decreasing in numbers. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gray's lark</span> Species of bird

Gray's lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in south-western Africa in its natural habitat of hot deserts.

<i>Calandrella</i> Genus of birds

Calandrella is a genus of larks in the family Alaudidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karoo lark</span> Species of bird

The Karoo lark should not be confused with the similarly named Karoo long-billed lark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red lark</span> Species of bird

The red lark, also known as the ferruginous lark or ferruginous sand-lark, is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in western South Africa and possibly Namibia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cape long-billed lark</span> Species of bird

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karoo long-billed lark</span> Species of bird

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spike-heeled lark</span> Species of bird

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stark's lark</span> Species of bird

Stark's lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. Its natural habitats are dry savannah and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. Captain George Shelley named the species in honour of Arthur Stark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Archer's lark</span> Species of bird

Archer's lark, also known as the Liben lark, is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in Somalia, Somaliland and Ethiopia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland. It is threatened by habitat loss. The bird's common name and binomial commemorate the British explorer and colonial official Sir Geoffrey Francis Archer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rudd's lark</span> Species of bird

Rudd's lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is endemic to South Africa. Its natural habitat is high-altitude grassland. It is threatened by habitat loss.

References

  1. 1 2 BirdLife International (2019). "Spizocorys fringillaris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T22717368A155302134. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T22717368A155302134.en . Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. "Spizocorys fringillaris - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-12-04.
  3. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2014-08-28). The Eponym Dictionary of Birds. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN   9781472905741.
  4. Ryan, Peter (2020). Del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Sargatal, Jordi; Christie, David; De Juana, Eduardo (eds.). "Botha's Lark (Spizocorys fringillaris)". www.hbw.com. doi:10.2173/bow.botlar1.01. S2CID   216175038 . Retrieved 2016-12-04.
  5. "Red List of South African Species - Spizocorys fringillaris". speciesstatus.sanbi.org. Retrieved 2023-07-13.