Mirafra | |
---|---|
Singing bush lark (Mirafra javanica) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Alaudidae |
Genus: | Mirafra Horsfield, 1821 |
Type species | |
Mirafra javanica Singing bush lark [1] Horsfield, 1821 | |
global range of genus [2] | |
Synonyms | |
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Mirafra is a genus of lark in the family Alaudidae. Some Mirafra species are called "larks", while others are called "bush larks". They are all found in Africa except for the singing bush lark that is found through South Asia to Australia.
The genus Mirafra was introduced in 1821 by the American naturalist Thomas Horsfield to accommodate a single species, Mirafra javanica the singing bush lark, which is therefore considered as the type species. [3] [4] The derivation of the genus name is unknown. [5]
A 2023 molecular phylogenetic study of the lark family Alaudidae by the Swedish ornithologist Per Alström and his collaborators found that the genus Mirafra contained deep internal genetic divergences. They therefore split Mirafra into four genera, each corresponding to a major clade. Species were moved to Plocealauda , Amirafra and Corypha leaving only seven species remaining in Mirafra. [6] [7]
The genus contains seven species: [7]
Image | Scientific name | Common Name | Distribution |
---|---|---|---|
Mirafra passerina | Monotonous lark | southern Africa. | |
Mirafra pulpa | Friedmann's lark | East Africa. | |
Mirafra cordofanica | Kordofan lark | Mauritania and Senegal to Niger, eastern Chad, southern Sudan and northern South Sudan | |
Mirafra williamsi | Williams's lark | northern Kenya | |
Mirafra javanica | Singing bush lark | Australia and much of Southeast Asia. | |
Mirafra cheniana | Melodious lark | South Africa (Eastern Cape, the Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and North West Province), Botswana and Zimbabwe | |
Mirafra albicauda | White-tailed lark | western Chad, eastern Sudan, northeastern South Sudan, south-central Ethiopia, and from Uganda and western Kenya to central Tanzania | |
Some authorities, either presently or formerly, recognize several additional species as belonging to the genus Mirafra, including:
The Bengal bush lark or Bengal lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in southern Asia.
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.
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 Indian bush lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in South Asia.
The collared lark or collared bushlark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in East Africa.
The red-winged lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in eastern Africa. It was formerly treated as conspecific with the Kidepo lark.
The pink-breasted lark or pink-breasted bushlark is a species of passerine bird in the family Alaudidae.
The sabota lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in southern Africa in its natural habitats of dry savannah, moist savannah, and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. It is generally sedentary but local movements occur in drier regions. The species name is derived from sebotha or sebothé, the Tswana generic name for a lark.
The Somali lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae endemic to Somalia. Ash's lark is now considered to be a subspecies.
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.
Ammomanes is a genus of lark in the family Alaudidae.
The Karoo lark should not be confused with the similarly named Karoo long-billed lark.
Certhilauda is a genus of larks in the family Alaudidae living in the southern regions of Africa. The genus was formerly named Heterocorys.
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.
The short-clawed lark or short-clawed bush-lark, is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in Botswana and South Africa. Its natural habitat is dry savannah.
Archer's lark, also known as the Liben lark, is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in Somalia 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.
Heteromirafra is a small genus of African larks in the family Alaudidae.
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.
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.