Dusky lark

Dusky lark
In Kruger NP, South Africa
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Alaudidae
Genus:	Pinarocorys
Species:	P. nigricans
Binomial name
Pinarocorys nigricans (Sundevall, 1850)
Subspecies
See text
breeding range in blue, overwintering range in yellow
Synonyms
Alauda nigricans Mirafra nigricans

The dusky lark (Pinarocorys nigricans), also known as the dusky bush lark or rufous-rumped bush lark, is a species of migratory lark in the family Alaudidae. ^[2] It is native to the southern Afrotropics.

Range

It is found in southern Central Africa; it is a summer migrant to more southerly areas. Its natural habitats are dry savannah and subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland. ^[3]

Taxonomy and systematics

Formerly, the dusky lark was classified as belonging to the genera Alauda and Mirafra until moved to Pinarocorys.

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized: ^[4]

• P. n. nigricans(Sundevall, 1850): Found in south-eastern DR Congo, north-western Zambia and south-western Tanzania
• P. n. occidentis Clancey, 1968: Found in south-western DR Congo and northern Angola

References

1. BirdLife International (2016). "Pinarocorys nigricans". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016 e.T22717137A94522155. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22717137A94522155.en . Retrieved 11 November 2021.
2. "Pinarocorys nigricans - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
3. "South African Bird Atlas Project 2" (PDF). Retrieved November 10, 2016.
4. "IOC World Bird List 6.4". IOC World Bird List Datasets. doi: 10.14344/ioc.ml.6.4 .