Red-capped lark

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Red-capped lark
Red-capped lark, Calandrella cinerea, at Mapungubwe National Park, Limpopo, South Africa (23514690044).jpg
Mapungubwe, South Africa
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Alaudidae
Genus: Calandrella
Species:
C. cinerea
Binomial name
Calandrella cinerea
(Gmelin, JF, 1789)
Subspecies

See text

Calandrella cinerea distribution map.png
  Approximate range
Synonyms
  • Alauda cinerea
  • Calandrella brachydactyla cinerea

The red-capped lark (Calandrella cinerea) is a small passerine bird that breeds in the highlands of eastern Africa southwards from Ethiopia and Somaliland. In the south, its range stretches across the continent to Angola and south to the Cape in South Africa.

Contents

Taxonomy

The red-capped lark was formally described in 1789 by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition of Carl Linnaeus's Systema Naturae . He placed it with the larks in the genus Alauda and coined the binomial name Alauda cinerea. [2] [3] Gmelin based his description on "la Cendrille" from the Cape of Good Hope that had been described by the French polymath Comte de Buffon in 1778 and the "cinereous lark" that had been described by the English ornithologist John Latham in 1783. [4] [5] The red-capped lark is now one of six species placed in the genus Calandrella that was introduced in 1829 by the German naturalist Johann Jakob Kaup. [6] The genus name is a diminutive of Ancient Greek kalandros, the calandra lark. The specific epithet cinerea is from Latin cinereus meaning "ash-grey" or "ash-coloured". [7]

The red-capped lark was formerly considered to be conspecific with the Mongolian lark (Calandrella dukhunensis), the greater short-toed lark (Calandrella brachydactyla), the rufous-capped lark (Calandrella eremica) and Blandford's lark (Calandrella blanfordi). [3] Alternate names for the red-capped lark include rufous short-toed lark and African short-toed lark, although the former may also describe the Somali short-toed lark. [8]

Subspecies

Five subspecies are recognized: [6] [9]

Description

The red-capped lark is 14–15 cm (5.5–5.9 in) in length, with a typically upright stance. The colour of the streaked grey to brown upperparts is variable, with subspecies differing in hue and brightness, but this species is easily identified by its rufous cap, white underparts, and red shoulders. The short head crest is normally not noticeable except when it is raised during courtship displays.The sexes are similar in appearance. Juveniles lack the red cap and shoulders of the adults, have dark spotting on the breast, and white spots on the dark brown upperparts. [8]

The call of the red-capped lark is a tshwerp like a sparrow, and the song, given in the display flight, is a jumble of whistles and short trills. It also imitates other birds. [8]

Distribution and habitat

This is a species of short grassland including fallow agricultural areas. In eastern Africa, it is found in the highlands, normally above 1000 m, but it occurs down to sea level in suitable habitat in the cooler south of its extensive range. [8]

Behaviour and ecology

Breeding

The red-capped lark breeds all year round, but mainly from September to December. The nest is built primarily by the female in 4 to 5 days. It is an open cup which is set into the ground and usually situated close to a grass tuft, stone or mound. The nest is lined with fine grass and rootlets. The eggs are laid at daily intervals. The clutch of 2–3 eggs is incubated by the female who is fed by the male. The eggs hatch synchronously after 12–15 days. The chicks are fed and cared for by both parents for a period of between 9 and 18 days. [8]

Food and feeding

The red-capped lark forages on bare ground or in very short grass, moving with short runs to feed on seeds and insects. It is sometimes found in flocks which can number hundreds of birds. [8]

Related Research Articles

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

The greater short-toed lark is a small passerine bird. The current scientific name is from Ancient Greek. The genus name, Calandrella, is a diminutive of kalandros, the calandra lark, and brachydactila is from brakhus, "short", and daktulos, "toe".

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

The Mediterraneanshort-toed lark is a small passerine bird found in and around the Mediterranean Basin. It is a common bird with a very wide range from Canary Islands north to the Iberian Peninsula and east throughout North Africa to parts of the Middle East. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern".

<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

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.

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

The pink-billed lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in southern Africa. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland.

<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">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.

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

Hume's short-toed lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in south-central Asia from Iran and Kazakhstan to China.

<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">Benguela long-billed lark</span> Species of bird

The Benguela long-billed lark, also known as the Benguela lark or Benguela longbill is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in south-western Africa. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland.

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

The Cape long-billed lark, also known as the Cape lark, Cape longbill or long-billed lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in south-western Africa. Its natural habitats are semi-arid Karoo shrub and subtropical dry shrubland and subtropical or dry lowland and highveld grassland. This lark is also found in croplands, farmlands and coastal fynbos.

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

The spike-heeled lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in southern Africa.

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

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.

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

Blanford's lark or Blanford's short-toed lark is a small passerine bird of the lark family, Alaudidae, which is native to north-eastern Africa. Its common name commemorates the English zoologist William Thomas Blanford.

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

Erlanger's lark is a small passerine bird of the lark family endemic to the highlands of Ethiopia. The name of this bird commemorates the German ornithologist Carlo von Erlanger.

The Athi short-toed lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania.

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

The Mongolian short-toed lark or Sykes's short-toed lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It breeds in China and Mongolia and winters in southern Asia.

The rufous-capped lark is a small passerine bird of the lark family found in southwestern Arabia and Somaliland.

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2017). "Calandrella cinerea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T103766143A119720449. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T103766143A119720449.en . Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  2. ↑ Gmelin, Johann Friedrich (1789). Systema naturae per regna tria naturae : secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis (in Latin). Vol. 1, Part 2 (13th ed.). Lipsiae [Leipzig]: Georg. Emanuel. Beer. p. 798.
  3. 1 2 Mayr, Ernst; Greenway, James C. Jr, eds. (1960). Check-List of Birds of the World. Vol. 9. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. p. 47.
  4. ↑ Buffon, Georges-Louis Leclerc de (1778). "La Cendrille". Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux (in French). Vol. 5. Paris: De l'Imprimerie Royale. p. 64.
  5. ↑ Latham, John (1783). A General Synopsis of Birds. Vol. 2, Part 2. London: Printed for Leigh and Sotheby. p. 388 No. 21.
  6. 1 2 Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (January 2023). "Nicators, Bearded Reedling, larks". IOC World Bird List Version 13.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  7. ↑ Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. pp.  84, 107. ISBN   978-1-4081-2501-4.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 de Juan, E.; Suárez, F.; Ryan, P.G. (2004). "Family Alaudida (Larks)" . In del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Christie, D.A. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 9: Cotingas to Pipits and Wagtails. Barcelona, Spain: Lynx Edicions. pp. 496–601 [583–584]. ISBN   978-84-87334-69-6.
  9. ↑ Stervander, M.; Hansson, B.; Olsson, U.; Hulme, M.F.; Ottosson, U.; Alström, P. (2020). "Molecular species delimitation of larks (Aves: Alaudidae), and integrative taxonomy of the genus Calandrella, with the description of a range-restricted African relic taxon". Diversity. 12 (11): 428. doi: 10.3390/d12110428 .

Sinclair, Hockey and Tarboton, SASOL Birds of Southern Africa, ISBN   1-86872-721-1

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