Eastern clapper lark

Eastern clapper lark
M. f. subsp. fasciolata at Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, South Africa
Not recognized (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Alaudidae
Genus: Mirafra
Species: M. fasciolata
Binomial name
Mirafra fasciolata
(Sundevall, 1850)
Subspecies

see text

     resident range
Synonyms
  • Alauda fasciolata
  • Mirafra damarensis
  • Damara clapper lark

The eastern clapper lark (Mirafra fasciolata) is a small passerine bird which breeds in southern Africa. It derives its name from the wing clapping which forms part of its display flight.

Taxonomy and systematics

The Eastern clapper lark was originally placed in the genus Alauda. This species and the Cape clapper lark were formerly considered conspecific as the clapper lark (M. apiata) until split in 2009.[1] Fry, Keith and Urban, in The Birds of Africa, regard this species and the Cape clapper lark as forming a superspecies with the flappet lark, which is found further to the north. The binomial Mirafra damarensis is also an alternate name for the Cape clapper lark.

Subspecies

Five subspecies are recognized:[2]

Description

This lark is a 15-cm-long bird, with a brown crown, rich rufous underparts, and a strong bill. It has brown upperparts (greyer in the north of its range). Its call is an ascending "pooooeeeee".

Distribution and habitat

The eastern clapper lark is found in much of the drier parts of southern Africa in Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and South Africa. It is a species of open grassland and savannah.

Behaviour and ecology

Wing clapping during the ascent of the short display flight

The eastern clapper lark is a skulking species, difficult to find when not displaying. It is not gregarious, and individuals tend to be seen in dry habitats feeding on the ground on seeds and insects. The display commences with an ascending flight with wing flapping. It then parachutes down with trailing legs.

References

  1. "Species Version 2 « IOC World Bird List". www.worldbirdnames.org. Retrieved 2016-11-22.
  2. "IOC World Bird List 6.4". IOC World Bird List Datasets. doi:10.14344/ioc.ml.6.4.
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