Large-billed lark

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).

Large-billed lark
Nominate race at De Hoop Nature Reserve, South Africa

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
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

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 (2012). "Galerida magnirostris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  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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