Oriental skylark

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Oriental skylark
Oriental Skylark by David Raju (cropped).jpg
In India
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Alaudidae
Genus: Alauda
Species:
A. gulgula
Binomial name
Alauda gulgula
Franklin, 1831
Subspecies

See text

Alauda gulgula distribution map.png
Kolleru Lake, Andhra Pradesh, India Oriental Skylark (Alauda gulgula) in AP W IMG 4084.jpg
Kolleru Lake, Andhra Pradesh, India

The Oriental skylark (Alauda gulgula), also known as the small skylark, is a species of skylark found in the southern, central and eastern Palearctic . Like other skylarks, it is found in open grassland where it feeds on seeds and insects.

Contents

Taxonomy and systematics

The Oriental skylark was described by the English soldier and naturalist James Franklin in 1831 and given the binomial name Alauda gulgula. [2] 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. [3]

Other alternate names for the Oriental skylark include eastern skylark, Indian skylark and lesser skylark. [4]

Subspecies

Thirteen subspecies are recognized: [5]

Description

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.

in Bangladesh Oriental skylark.jpg
in Bangladesh

Behaviour and ecology

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.

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References

  1. BirdLife International (2016). "Alauda gulgula". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22717424A94531143. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22717424A94531143.en . Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  2. Franklin, James (1831). "Catalogue of birds (systematically arranged) which were collected on the Ganges between Calcutta and Benares, and in the Vindhyian hills between the latter place and Gurrah Mundela, on the Nerbudda". Proceedings of the Committee of Science and Correspondence of the Zoological Society of London (in English and Latin). Part 1 (10): 114–125 [119].
  3. Jobling, J.A. (2018). del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J.; Christie, D.A.; de Juana, E. (eds.). "Key to Scientific Names in Ornithology". Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  4. "Alauda gulgula - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-12-10.
  5. "IOC World Bird List 6.4". IOC World Bird List Datasets. doi: 10.14344/ioc.ml.6.4 .