Alaemon
| Alaemon | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sandpiper Lark |
||||||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Alaemon | ||||||||||||
| Keyserling & Blasius , 1840 |
Alaemon is a genus of larks . Among the bird species living today, 2 species belong to the genus. A German name for this genus has not yet been established, but the comparatively long-legged larks are occasionally referred to as runner larks.
The range of the genus is very large. It stretches from North Africa through the Middle East to the Indian subcontinent . All species are classified as Least Concern by the IUCN .
features
The species of the genus Alaemon are large larks, together with the genus Melanocorypha they are among the largest species of lark and reach the size of a thrush.
The species of the genus Alaemon have very long, slender and slightly curved beaks. Within the lark family, only the long- beaked beak has a comparably long and slender beak.
The nostrils are uncovered in the Alaemon species. This distinguishes them, among other things, from the species of the genus Ammomanes , which are also pronounced desert inhabitants.
The wings are long and the tenth wing is visible even when the wings are folded. The tail plumage is also long and reaches two thirds of the wing length. The lice are very strong, but the toes and claws are comparatively short. The hind claw of the Somali sandpiper is slightly curved, whereas the short hind claw of the desert sandpiper is straight.
Distribution area
The Somali runner lark is found in northeast Somalia. Their habitat is open dry grassy areas. It is a resident bird in the entire distribution area.
The range of the sandpiper lark, on the other hand, is many times larger. It occurs in the Cape Verde Islands, and in the Sahara the distribution ranges from southern Morocco south to Mauritania , in north and central Mali , in central Niger , in central and eastern Chad and in northern Sudan . In the Middle East, the deposits extend eastward to Syria , Jordan and northern Saudi Arabia , across the coasts of the Red Sea southward to northwestern Somalia and in central Saudi Arabia to southern Yemen . From Iraq and eastern Arabia, the area then stretches eastwards to Pakistan before it reaches its eastern border in the far northwest of India.
In dry years the sandpiper lark can develop dispersions . This species has been found as a stray visitor in the Canaries , Senegal , Italy , Malta , Greece , Turkey and Lebanon .
Way of life
Like all larks, the alaemon species are ground breeders. The diet consists of insects and seeds. Both species sing both from low stand guard and when singing.
species
The following recent species are included in the genus:
- Sandpiper Lark ( Alaemon alaudipes )
- Somali runner lark ( Alaemon hamertoni )
literature
- Rudolf Pätzold: The larks of the world . Westarp Sciences, Magdeburg 1994, ISBN 3-89432-422-8 .
- Rudolf Pätzold: Compendium of Larks. All the larks on earth. Jan-Schimkat-Medienpublikation, Dresden 2003, ISBN 3-00-011219-7 .
Web links
Single receipts
- ^ Pätzold: Compendium of Larks . P. 202
- ↑ Nicators, reedling & larks "IOC World Bird List .