Red-tailed lark
| Red-tailed lark | ||||||||||||
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Red-tailed lark |
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| Ammomanes phoenicura | ||||||||||||
| ( Franklin , 1831) |
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The red-tailed lark ( Ammomanes phonicura ) is a species from the lark family. Its distribution area is the Indian subcontinent. There are two subspecies.
The IUCN classifies the population of the red-tailed lark as harmless ( least concern ).
features
The red-tailed lark reaches a body length of about 16 centimeters, of which 5.7 to 6.4 centimeters are on the tail. The beak length is 1.5 to 1.7 centimeters measured from the skull. They weigh between 21 and 28.3 grams. There is no noticeable gender dimorphism .
The red-tailed lark is a small reddish and gray-colored lark whose plumage shows only a small amount of dotted lines. It resembles the stone lark , but is overall significantly darker and more reddish brown on the underside of the body. The tail plumage has a black end band, which contrasts strikingly with the otherwise brown-red color of the tail feathers. The beak is horn-brown, with the upper beak a little darker. Legs and feet are brown with slightly darker claws. The iris is hazel brown.
singing
The song of the red-tailed lark consists of a series of thrush-like syllables. The male sings this song both in singing flight and from high seat guards such as mounds of earth or stones. When singing, the male rises 30 meters into the air and circling at this altitude while singing for several minutes, then gradually reducing the altitude. It can then fall steeply to the ground with its wings drawn up.
Distribution area and habitat
The distribution area of the red-tailed lark is the Indian subcontinent. The northern limit of distribution runs from Kachchh via Delhi and Uttar Pradesh to the southwest of Bangladesh. The red-tailed lark is absent from Sri Lanka. The red-tailed lark is a resident bird in the entire distribution area.
The habitat of the red-tailed lark are open, stony landscapes that are only sparsely covered with bushes. It can also be found on fallow land near agricultural land.
Way of life
The red-tailed lark eats seeds. The food spectrum also includes rice and the grains of other cereals. It also eats arthropods. While foraging for food, they zigzag around the ground.
The breeding season falls from February to May. Like all larks, the red-tailed lark is a ground breeder. Both parent birds are involved in nest building and the rearing of the young birds. The clutch consists of two to four eggs. The eggs are cream-colored to greenish-white with small reddish-brown spots.
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 .
