Large-billed lark
Nominate race at De Hoop Nature Reserve, South Africa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Alaudidae
Genus: Galerida
Species:
G. magnirostris
Binomial name
Galerida magnirostris
(Stephens, 1826)
Subspecies

See text

     resident range[2]
Synonyms
  • Alauda magnirostris
  • Calendula magnirostris
  • Galerida crassirostris

The large-billed lark or southern thick-billed lark (Galerida magnirostris) is a small passerine bird found in southern Africa. The name "large-billed lark" may also refer to Bradfield's lark. The name "thick-billed lark" more commonly refers to the species of the same name (i.e. Rhamphocoris clotbey).

Taxonomy and systematics

The large-billed lark was originally placed in the genus Alauda, and then Calendula until that genus was subsequently re-named to the present Galerida.[3] Another alternate name used for the large-billed lark is the long-billed lark.[4]

Subspecies

Three subspecies are recognized:[5]

  • G. m. magnirostris (Stephens, 1826): Found in south-western South Africa
  • G. m. sedentaria Clancey, 1993: Found in south-western Namibia and western South Africa
  • Orange Free State large-billed lark, G. m. harei (Roberts, 1924): Found in central South Africa, Lesotho

Description

The large-billed lark is 18 cm in length. It is relatively short-tailed and has a thick bill with a yellow base to the lower mandible. It has streaked brown-grey upperparts, and a long white supercilium. Like other species in the genus, it has a crest that can be raised in display or alarm. The underparts are cream-coloured with heavy dark streaking on the breast. The heavy bi-coloured bill distinguishes this species from all other African larks.

The call of this very vocal species is a soft creaking "treeeeleeeeleee".

Distribution and habitat

The large-billed lark is a resident breeder in southern South Africa, Lesotho and southernmost Namibia. Its natural habitat is fynbos, karoo scrub and mountain grassland. The large-billed lark is also found in cultivated and fallow agricultural land.

Behaviour and ecology

Like other larks, the large-billed lark nests on the ground. Its food is seeds and insects, the latter especially in the breeding season.

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2016). "Galerida magnirostris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22717402A94530525. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22717402A94530525.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ↑ Based on maps in the Handbook of the Birds of the World and the BirdLife data zone
  3. ↑ "Galerida magnirostris - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-12-06.
  4. ↑ "Galerida magnirostris - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-12-10.
  5. ↑ "IOC World Bird List 6.4". IOC World Bird List Datasets. doi:10.14344/ioc.ml.6.4.
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