Somali giant lark

Somali giant lark
Somali giant lark
Systematics
Order : Passerines (Passeriformes) Subordination : Songbirds (passeri) Superfamily : Sylvioidea Family : Larks (Alaudidae) Genre : Mirafra Type : Somali giant lark
Scientific name
Mirafra somalica
( Witherby , 1903)

Distribution area of ​​the giant lark

The Somali giant lark ( Mirafra somalica ) is a species from the lark family. Their distribution area is in eastern Africa. There are two subspecies.

The stock situation of the Ashlerche is classified as safe ( least concern ) by the IUCN .

features

The Somali giant lark is about the size of a skylark , but a bit longer-legged and has a longer beak. It reaches a body length of 17 to 18 centimeters, of which 5.8 to 7.2 centimeters are on the tail. The beak has a length of 2.3 to 2.9 centimeters. It weighs between 43 and 50 grams. There is no gender dimorphism .

The Somali giant lark has reddish brown stripes on the upper side of the body. The underside is whitish to yellow-brown, the breast is a little reddish and has blackish dots. Noticeable is the very clearly pronounced light stripe above the eyes. The wings and tail are yellow-brown to reddish brown. The outermost control spring is broadly lined with white.

Distribution area and habitat

The Somali giant lark is found in Somalia. It inhabits open savannahs there and prefers places that have a red soil. It also occurs in open coastal landscapes and is a resident bird in its range .

Way of life

The Somali giant lark breeds in the period from June to September. Like all larks, it is a ground breeder. The nests are built in shallow hollows and are protected by tufts of grass. The clutch consists of three to four eggs. They are whitish with brown and reddish brown speckles.

Subspecies

There are two subspecies:

• M. s. somalica - ( Witherby , 1903) : Northern Somalia
• M. s. Rochei - Colston , 1982 : Central Somalia

literature

• Rudolf Pätzold: The larks of the world . Westarp Sciences, Magdeburg 1994, ISBN 3-89432-422-8 .

Web links

• Mirafra somalica inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016.1. Posted by: BirdLife International, 2016. Retrieved January 7, 2017. </
• Singing of the Somali giant lark on Xeno-Canto

Single receipts

1. ↑ Pätzold: The larks of the world . P. 54.
2. ↑ Mirafra somalica in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016.1. Posted by: BirdLife International, 2016. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
3. ↑ Pätzold: The larks of the world . P. 53.
4. ^ IOC World Bird List 6.4 . In: IOC World Bird List Datasets . September. doi : 10.14344 / ioc.ml.6.4 .