Grass rattle lark
| Grass rattle lark | ||||||||||||
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Grass Rattle Lark, Namaqua National Park , South Africa |
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| Mirafra apiata | ||||||||||||
| ( Vieillot , 1816) |
The grass rattling lark ( Mirafra Apiata ) is a kind from the family of larks. It is a species that is widespread in the south of the African continent. It is significantly smaller than a skylark , but has a somewhat stronger beak. There are several subspecies. The name is derived from the rattling and clattering instrumental sounds that the lark makes with its wings.
The stock situation of the grass rattle lark is classified as harmless ( least concern ).
features
The grass rattle lark reaches a body length of 15 centimeters, of which 4.6 to 5.5 centimeters are on the tail. The male's beak is 1.45 to 1.83 centimeters long, measured from the skull, and 1.47 to 1.82 centimeters long in females. They weigh between 23 and 44 grams. There is no noticeable gender dimorphism .
The plumage of the grass rattle larch is predominantly dull reddish and on the upper side of the body conspicuously blackish longitudinally streaked, since all feathers have black shaft lines. The feathers also have light hems and black subterminal ribbons, which give the lark a scaly and speckled appearance. The chin and throat are whitish, the throat is also dashed in light dark brown. The breast is reddish-yellow-brown with dark and reddish-brown speckles. The wings are brown with different reddish parts. The tail feathers are overall dark brown with different reddish components, the sixth (outermost) control feather has a white outer vane and the inner vane also has white parts. The beak is brownish horn-colored. The iris is light brown, the feet and legs light reddish.
Possible confusion
The tree rattle lark is similar to the grass rattle lark. The distribution area of the two species hardly overlaps. The two types differ in the control springs. In the grass rattle lark there are white parts that are missing in the tree rattle larks.
Distribution area and habitat
The grass rattle lark occurs in southwestern Zambia, in Botswana, in the north and northeast of Namibia and in the Republic of South Africa.
The habitat are plateaus, grassy valleys and sand steppes with isolated bushes and tall grass.
Way of life
The grass rattle lark lives hidden in the tall grass. Their presence can often only be determined by their courtship flight. To do this, the male climbs steeply upwards and generates the name-giving rattling instrumental sounds with its wings. The courtship flight lasts up to 10 minutes.
The breeding season depends on the geographical location and the habitat conditions. In dry regions, breeding usually begins after the rainy season. Like all larks, the grass rattle lark is a ground breeder. The nest is built under the protection of tufts of grass, stones or mounds of earth. It is spherical and usually arched with grass. The clutch consists of two to three eggs.
Subspecies
There are two subspecies:
- M. a. apiata - ( Vieillot , 1816) : Occurrence in the southwest of Namibia and in the west of South Africa
- M. a. marjoriae - Winterbottom , 1956 : Occurrence in the south of the Republic of South Africa.
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. 89.
- ^ Pätzold: Compendium of Larks . P. 86.
- ^ Pätzold: Compendium of Larks . P. 82.
- ^ Pätzold: Compendium of Larks . P. 87.
- ^ Pätzold: Compendium of Larks . P. 88.
- ^ IOC World Bird List 6.4 . In: IOC World Bird List Datasets . September. doi : 10.14344 / ioc.ml.6.4 .