Horsfield Lark
| Horsfield Lark | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
_(12286148834).jpg)
Horsfield Lark ( Mirafra javanica ) |
||||||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Mirafra javanica | ||||||||||||
| Horsfield , 1821 |
The Horsfield Lark ( Mirafra javanica ), also Horsfieldlerche written, is a kind from the family of larks. Their distribution area extends from Southeast Asia to Australia. It is next to the introduced there Skylark the only way out of this family, associated on the Australian continent. The German name honors Thomas Walker Horsfield (1773-1859), a British doctor, zoologist and botanist who was the first to scientifically describe this species.
features
The Horsfield Lark reaches a body length of 12.5 to 15.0 centimeters, of which 4.5 to 5.5 centimeters are on the tail. It weighs about 20 grams. There is no noticeable gender dimorphism .
The Horsfield Lark is reddish, reddish-gray to black-brown or sand-colored on the upper side, depending on the subspecies. The wings are lined with light. The underside of the body is light reddish to beige, the chest is speckled with dark brown. The tail is brown. The bill is yellowish horn-colored to brown, the feet are light flesh-colored to brownish flesh-colored depending on the subspecies. The iris is brown.
The typical lark song, which consists of a series of variable phrases, is performed from the ground or in flight. The Horsfield Lark is a species of lark that mimics other species of birds - over a dozen imitations of the songs of other birds have been found.
Distribution area and habitat
_(12100175043).jpg)
The Horsfield Lark occurs from Myanmar and southern China via Thailand, the Philippines, Borneo, Java, Bali and New Guinea to Australia.
Their habitat is grassland with low bushes as well as sparse bush and woodland. It also populates the edges of fields along agricultural areas that are tilled with pulses and grain. In large parts of its distribution area it is a stationary and mooring bird. In the south of Australia it is a migratory bird that probably overwinters on the east coast.
Reproduction
The Horsfield Lark breeds in southern Australia from November to January. Like all larks, it is a ground breeder that builds a bowl-shaped nest under tufts of grass. Occasionally these nests are completely or partially covered with grass. The clutch usually consists of three, in exceptional cases two or four eggs. The eggs are whitish and have fine gray-brown spots.
Subspecies
There are 16 subspecies:
- M. j. williamsoni - Baker, ECS , 1915 : from Myanmar to southern China, Thailand, Cambodia, parts of Vietnam.
- M. j. philippinensis - Wardlaw-Ramsay , 1886 : Northern Philippines
- M. j. mindanensis - Hachisuka , 1931 : South of the Philippines
- M. j. javanica - Horsfield , 1821 : Borneo , Java and Bali
- M. j. parva - Swinhoe , 1871 : West of the Lesser Sunda Islands
- M. j. timorensis - Mayr , 1944 : East of the Lesser Sunda Islands
- M. j. aliena - Greenway , 1935 : North and Northeast New Guinea
- M. j. woodwardi - Milligan , 1901 : Extreme Northwest Australia
- M. j. halli - Bianchi , 1907 : Northern Western Australia
- M. j. forresti - Mayr & McEvey , 1960 : Northern Eastern Australia
- M. j. melvillensis - Mathews , 1912 : settled on the Australian islands of Melville Island and Bathurst Island
- M. j. soderbergi - Mathews, 1921 : Northern Australia
- M. j. rufescens - Ingram, W , 1906 : Central Australia
- M. j. athertonensis - Schodde & Mason, IJ , 1999 : Northeast Australia
- M. j. horsfieldii - Gould , 1847 : East and Southeast Australia
- M. j. secunda - Sharpe , 1890 : South Australia.
literature
- Rudolf Pätzold: The larks of the world . Westart Sciences, Magdeburg 1994, ISBN 3-89432-422-8 .
Web links
Single receipts
- ↑ Pätzold: The larks of the world . P. 35.
- ↑ a b Pätzold: The larks of the world . P. 36.
- ↑ a b Pätzold: The larks of the world . P. 37.
- ^ IOC World Bird List 6.4 . In: IOC World Bird List Datasets . September. doi : 10.14344 / ioc.ml.6.4 .