Larkbird

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Larkbird
Larkbird

Larkbird

Systematics
Order : Passerines (Passeriformes)
Subordination : Songbirds (passeri)
Family : Starlings (Icteridae)
Subfamily : Sturnellinae
Genre : Larkbird ( Sturnella )
Type : Larkbird
Scientific name
Sturnella magna
( Linnaeus , 1758)

The larkbird ( Sturnella magna ), also known as the eastern larkbird , is a 21 to 28 centimeter large bird species from the starch family (Icteridae).

Appearance

The birds have light brown back plumage, the belly and throat and a narrow area above the eye are yellow. The bird wears a black V-shaped ribbon on its chest. The beak and legs as well as the plumage around the eye area and the underside of the tail are white with short, elongated black spots. A black border below the throat is noticeable.

Singing larkbird

Distribution and way of life

This species of bird is found from southeast Canada, along the eastern coastal states of the United States to Florida, Texas, New Mexico, Mexico, and Central and South America to Brazil. The larch blackbird prefers the open terrain of the grass and prairie landscapes. The larchbird feeds on insects such as grasshoppers, ants and beetles. Grain and grass seeds are also eaten, as well as carrion. When hunting insects, it usually sits on heights such as branches, stakes, etc. and pounces on its prey in flight or searches for insects on the ground. The northern populations move south before winter, otherwise the birds stay true to their location all year round. The male's song consists of a series of clear, soft whistling tones.

Distribution map of the blackbird

Reproduction

In early spring, the male secures its own territory, which it defends against conspecifics. During courtship, the male raises his beak to the sky and shows the female his yellow breast and throat while jumping into the air. After a pair has found each other, the female builds a bowl-shaped nest of grass in which she lays 3–7 white eggs with brown spots. The incubation period is up to two weeks. Males and females take turns taking care of the brood. There are usually two broods per year.

Hazards and protective measures

Because of its wide distribution and that no endangerments are known for this species, the IUCN classifies this species as ( Least Concern ) not endangered.

literature

  • Philip Whitfield (ed.): The great world empire of the animals . Planet Media AG, Zug 1992, pp. 382, ​​383, ISBN 3-8247-8614-1
  • Joseph Michael Forshaw (ed.), David Kirshner: Encyclopedia of the Wildlife: Birds. Translated from the English by Derek Vinyard. Orbis, Hamburg 2003, ISBN 978-3-572-01378-4 , p. 28.
  • David Burnie (Ed.), Mariele Radmacher-Martens: Animals: The large picture encyclopedia with over 2,000 species. Translated from the English by Gabriele Lehari. Dorling Kindersley, Munich 2012, ISBN 978-3-8310-2232-8 , p. 367.
  • The great encyclopedia of birds . Pp. 331, 333, (German translation from English), Orbis Verlag, 1996, ISBN 3-572-00810-7

Web links

Commons : Larkbird ( Sturnella magna )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files