Melodious lark

Melodious lark
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Alaudidae
Genus:	Mirafra
Species:	M. cheniana
Binomial name
Mirafra cheniana Smith, 1843
range
Synonyms
Lakatoo lark Latakoo bush lark Latakoo bushlark Latakoo lark Melodious bushlark Singing bush lark Singing bush-Lark Southern lark Southern singing bushlark Southern singing bush lark Southern singing bush-lark Southern singing lark

The melodious lark or Latakoo lark (Mirafra cheniana) is a species of lark in the Alaudidae family found in southern Africa. It is currently threatened by habitat loss. The alternate name of "singing bush lark" usually refers to the species of that name, Mirafra cantillans.

Distribution and habitat

The melodious lark has a probable maximum range of 110,400 square kilometres (42,600 sq mi), separated into many disjunct populations located in South Africa (Eastern Cape, the Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and North West Province), Botswana and Zimbabwe.^[2] At times, local populations will abandon one area for another when the regular dry-season fires occur.^[2]

Habitat

The natural habitat of the melodious lark is subtropical or tropical, seasonally wet or flooded, lowland grassland.^[2] Within these regions, it prefers the drier slopes, especially in open runs between grassy tussocks.

Melodious larks select different textures of grass or grass parts to build their domed, obliquely-accessed nests. They use the harder and more fibrous grasses and stalks for an outer thatch, while the finer and softer grasses or grass leaves are used to line the nest's interior.^[2]

Behaviour and ecology

Breeding

The melodious lark is assessed as likely to be both territorial and monogamous, and lays a clutch of 2-4 eggs.^[2] It is generally resident, breeding from September to March. The level of breeding activity varies depending on locality. The most active period in South Africa is between November and January, while in Zimbabwe it is from January to March.^[2]

Food and feeding

The melodious lark forages on the ground for food, eating mostly grass seeds supplemented with insects.^[2]

References

1. BirdLife International (2012). "Mirafra cheniana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
2. Compilers: Andrew O'Brien, Joe Taylor (2008). "Melodious Lark - BirdLife Species Factsheet". Evaluators: Stuart Butchart, Joe Taylor. BirdLife International . Retrieved May 11, 2009.

External links

• Melodious lark - Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds.