SANParks.org Forums

Here is another ID of a Lark I need help with please: seen in November at Boskopdam Nature REserver in Potchefstroom.

Is the first one a Spike-heeled Lark?





These 2 were seen on different times. They were alone and in grassveld/short grass.

Thanks in advance

Spike-heeled Lark seems right for both pix.

Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, Gauteng.

Spike-heeled Lark
Afrikaans : VlakteLewerik
Chersomanes albofasciata

Identification:
A Medium-sized lark with a long decurved bill
Iris brown in colour, legs and feet pinkish brown.
Bill blackish horn colour, with a pale base
Belly and below - rufous in colour.
Above:brown to rufous to mottled
Blackish tail with white tipp which is diagnostic.
Throat white
Eyebrow always rufous never white.

Status
A Common resident

Habitat
Sparse grass, overgrazed areas,shrubby semidesert to desert edges.

Habits
Normally in pairs or in small groups of up to 10
Runs or walks quickly while foraging.
Has a rather upright posture
Has a bouncy flight accompanied by thrilling calls - tail always fanned.

Food
Mostly insects, but also seeds and green plant material - they dont drink water

Breeding:
Normally breeds from August to December
Nest a cup of dry grass and roots
Young fed by both parents

I was fortunate with larks on my September 2011 visit to MZNP and am pleased to add another lark to the index.

Ai, sorry to burst the bubble here Arks

That is in fact a Spike Heeled Lark.

Karoo Long-Billed Larks have white, heavily streaked underparts.

The Spike Heeled Lark has a rufous underbelly and not really streaked at all.

Just for just clarification, here is a photo of a Karoo Long-Billed Lark, not the best photo, but you should get the idea.



IMG_5463 by DvdBergh, on Flickr

Some more bad shots, but enough to show you the white, streaked underparts

http://www.vdberghimages.co.za/KLBLark.aspx

Agree with Daan.

Seriously Daan, did you herd every single bird into a fence this January?

Here birdie, birdie, birdie....

Eish, you're both absolutely right! Thanks WTM and DD (my fault for misIDing these pix and not looking more closely when I posted them) I DO have nice pix of the Karoo longbilled lark and will start another thread for those and ask a mod to merge this thread into the exisiting spikeheeled lark thread.