Bengal Bush Lark
| Bengal Bush Lark | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| At Joka in Kolkata. | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Alaudidae |
| Genus: | Mirafra |
| Species: | M. assamica |
| Binomial name | |
| Mirafra assamica Horsfield, 1840 |
|
The Bengal Bush Lark or Rufous-winged Bush Lark (Mirafra assamica) is a small passerine bird.
Description
It is short-tailed and has a strong stout bill. In size it is not as long as the Skylark, measuring about 15 centimeters. (See below for more.)
Range and population
It is a resident breeder in the Indian subcontinent and southeast Asia, with an estimated global Extent of Occurrence of 100,000-1,000,000 square km.[1]
Habits and habitat
The Bengal Bush Lark is a common bird of dry, open, stony country often with sparse shrubbery, and cultivated areas. 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.
Taxonomic changes
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. Mirafra (assamica) assamica is dark-streaked grey above, and buff below, with spotting on the breast and behind the eye. The wings are rufous. Jerdon's Bushlark has paler, greyish-brown underparts. The song of Jerdon's Bush Lark is a dry rattle given from its perch, while that of M. (a.) assamica is a repetition of thin disyllabic notes, delivered in a song-flight.[2]
References
- ^ a b BirdLife International (2012). "Mirafra assamica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.1. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
- ^ Alström, Per (1998). "Taxonomy of the Mirafra assamica complex". Forktail 13: 97–107 . Retrieved May 1, 2009.
External links
- Compilers: Stuart Butchart, Helen Temple (2008). "Rufous-winged Lark - BirdLife Species Factsheet". Evaluators: Jeremy Bird, Stuart Butchart, Helen Temple. BirdLife International . Retrieved May 4, 2009.
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In Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
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With Paddyfield Pipit (Anthus rufulus) in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
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In Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
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In Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
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Preening in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
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In Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
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In Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
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