Sidamosporn lark

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Sidamosporn lark
Systematics
Order : Passerines (Passeriformes)
Subordination : Songbirds (passeri)
Family : Larks (Alaudidae)
Genre : Heteromirafra
Type : Somali sporn lark ( Heteromirafra archeri )
Subspecies : Sidamosporn lark
Scientific name
Heteromirafra archeri sidamoensis
( Érard , 1975)

The Sidamo Lark ( Heteromirafra archeri sidamoensis ) is a subspecies of the Somali spur Lark ( Heteromirafra archeri ) in the family of larks . It is endemic to Sidamo Province in southern Ethiopia . The Sidamosporn lark was discovered in 1968 and scientifically described in 1975.

features

The Sidamosporn Lark reaches a size of 16 to 17 centimeters and a weight of 30 grams. Characteristic features are the short tail, the large head, the long, slender neck and the long, spur-like rear claw. The large dark eyes contrast with a light stripe over the eyes. The ear covers are solid reddish brown. The reins are sand colored. A light stripe runs across the center of the head. The crown feathers, the wing covers and the umbrella feathers are dark reddish brown. Black spots in the middle of the feathers, black subterminal hems and protruding sand-colored to white outer hems give the back plumage a scale-like appearance. The shafts of the wing covers and the umbrella feathers are white. The neck and coat are pink to grayish-sand-colored with dark strands. The strands run from the neck down to the chest. The arm and hand wings are dark reddish brown with light pink-sand colored outer edges. The tail is brownish, the outer control feathers are dark beige-pink. The underside is whitish and washed out in different sand colors on the chest and on the flanks. The iris dark brown. The beak is yellowish horn-colored. The legs and feet are straw brown to pink. The sexes look the same. The young birds have not yet been described.

Vocalizations

The male's song consists of a series of humming whistles and trills that are longer and more varied than those of the related Transvaal sporn lark ( Heteromirafra ruddi ). When the Sidamo lark is startled, a soft “tswee-ee-eep” can sometimes be heard as it buzzes three to four meters above the ground.

Occurrence and habitat

The only known occurrence is in the Liben Plain in the Negelli plateau in the southern Ethiopian province of Sidamo. The Sidamosporn lark inhabits open grasslands with isolated bushes, denser semi-arid acacia savannas and woodland at altitudes up to 1450 m.

Way of life

Little is known about the way of life of the Sidamo spotted lark. It is apparently true to location. If there is any disturbance, it hurries away and seeks protection in the thick vegetation. The breeding and mating behavior has also hardly been researched. Courtship flights were observed between January and May. Several males sing at the same time while they fly over the territories. Nests and eggs are blank. There are also no observations on feeding behavior.

Existence and endangerment

In 2009, BirdLife International sounded the alarm, as only a narrow strip of land in the Liben Plain in the southern Ethiopian province of Sidamo has survived from the former distribution area of ​​the Sidamo spotted lark. However, if the natural destruction continues in this region, it is feared that the species will become extinct within the next four years.

While in the 1990s a distribution area of ​​5400 km² was assumed, the British ornithologist Claire Spottiswoode, who carried out investigations into the habitat of the Sidamo spotted lark between 2007 and 2008, estimates the current area of ​​the distribution area to be less than 35 km². According to the current state of knowledge, there are probably only between 90 and 256 adult birds. In 2007, the species was upgraded from the “endangered” category to the “critically endangered” category on the Red List of Threatened Species. In 2009 the Sidamos lark was classified in the category “critically endangered”.

The Liben Plain (German: Liben grass level) has recently shrunk considerably due to the elimination of the scrubland and the cultivation of cereal plants. The remaining grasslands are being degraded by grazing cattle driven onto the plains by the Borana herders.

literature

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