Bengal bush lark

Bengal bush lark
At Joka in Kolkata.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Alaudidae
Genus: Mirafra
Species: M. assamica
Binomial name
Mirafra assamica
Horsfield, 1840
Synonyms
  • Bengal bushlark
  • Bengal lark
  • Rufous-winged bush lark
  • Rufous-winged bushlark
  • Rufous-winged Lark

The Bengal bush lark (Mirafra assamica) is a species of lark in the Alaudidae family found in South Asia.

Taxonomy and systematics

Showing wing colour while preening in Kolkata

The differences within the genus Mirafra are often very subtle and confusing with many differences apparent only when specimens are examined in hand.

The Bengal bush lark was earlier classified into several races, the Bengal race assamica and the Madras race affinis. These were subsequently split, on the basis of diagnostic song and display characters, into the Jerdon's bush lark (Mirafra affinis) and assamica in the strict sense. Formerly, both the Burmese bush lark and Jerdon's bush lark were considered subspecies of the Bengal bush lark (as M. a. microptera and M. a. affinis respectively) until split to form a separate species. The alternate name "Rufous-winged bush lark" may also be used to describe the Red-winged lark.[2]

Description

The Bengal bush lark is short-tailed and has a strong stout bill. It is not as long as the skylark, measuring about 15 centimetres in length. It is dark-streaked grey above, and buff below, with spotting on the breast and behind the eye. The wings are rufous.

The song of the Bengal bush lark is a repetition of thin disyllabic notes, delivered in a song-flight.[3]

Distribution and habitat

In Kolkata

It is a resident breeder in the Indian subcontinent and south-east Asia, with an estimated global extent of occurrence of 100,000-1,000,000 square kilometres.[1]

The Bengal bush lark is a common bird of dry, open, stony country often with sparse shrubs, and cultivated areas.

Behaviour and ecology

It nests on the ground, laying three or four speckled eggs. This lark feeds primarily on seeds and insects, especially the latter during the breeding season.

Gallery

References

  1. 1 2 BirdLife International (2013). "Mirafra assamica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. ↑ "Mirafra hypermetra - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-11-28.
  3. ↑ Alström, Per (1998). "Taxonomy of the Mirafra assamica complex" (PDF). Forktail. 13: 97–107 . Retrieved May 1, 2009.

External links

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