| Red-capped lark | |
|---|---|
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| Mapungubwe, South Africa | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Alaudidae |
| Genus: | Calandrella |
| Species: | C. cinerea |
| Binomial name | |
| Calandrella cinerea (Gmelin, JF, 1789) | |
| Subspecies | |
See text | |
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Approximate range | |
| Synonyms | |
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Thered-capped lark (Calandrella cinerea) is a smallpasserine bird that breeds in the highlands of eastern Africa southwards fromEthiopia andSomaliland. In the south, its range stretches across the continent toAngola and south to theCape inSouth Africa.
The red-capped lark wasformally described in 1789 by the German naturalistJohann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition ofCarl Linnaeus'sSystema Naturae. He placed it with the larks in thegenusAlauda and coined thebinomial nameAlauda cinerea.[2][3] Gmelin based his description on "la Cendrille" from theCape of Good Hope that had been described by the French polymathComte de Buffon in 1778 and the "cinereous lark" that had been described by the English ornithologistJohn Latham in 1783.[4][5] The red-capped lark is now one of six species placed in the genusCalandrella that was introduced in 1829 by the German naturalistJohann Jakob Kaup.[6] The genus name is a diminutive ofAncient Greekkalandros, thecalandra lark. The specific epithetcinerea is fromLatincinereus meaning "ash-grey" or "ash-coloured".[7]
The red-capped lark was formerly considered to beconspecific with theMongolian lark (Calandrella dukhunensis), thegreater short-toed lark (Calandrella brachydactyla), therufous-capped lark (Calandrella eremica) andBlandford's lark (Calandrella blanfordi).[3] Alternate names for the red-capped lark include rufous short-toed lark and African short-toed lark, although the former may also describe theSomali short-toed lark.[8]
Fivesubspecies are recognized:[6][9]
The red-capped lark is 14–15 cm (5.5–5.9 in) in length, with a typically upright stance. The colour of the streaked grey to brown upperparts is variable, with subspecies differing in hue and brightness, but this species is easily identified by its rufous cap, white underparts, and red shoulders. The short head crest is normally not noticeable except when it is raised during courtship displays.The sexes are similar in appearance. Juveniles lack the red cap and shoulders of the adults, have dark spotting on the breast, and white spots on the dark brown upperparts.[8]
The call of the red-capped lark is atshwerp like asparrow, and the song, given in the display flight, is a jumble of whistles and short trills. It also imitates other birds.[8]
This is a species of short grassland including fallow agricultural areas. In eastern Africa, it is found in the highlands, normally above 1000 m, but it occurs down to sea level in suitable habitat in the cooler south of its extensive range.[8]
The red-capped lark breeds all year round, but mainly from September to December. The nest is built primarily by the female in 4 to 5 days. It is an opencup which is set into the ground and usually situated close to a grass tuft, stone or mound. The nest is lined with fine grass and rootlets. The eggs are laid at daily intervals. The clutch of 2–3 eggs is incubated by the female who is fed by the male. The eggs hatch synchronously after 12–15 days. The chicks are fed and cared for by both parents for a period of between 9 and 18 days.[8]
The red-capped lark forages on bare ground or in very short grass, moving with short runs to feed on seeds and insects. It is sometimes found in flocks which can number hundreds of birds.[8]
Sinclair, Hockey and Tarboton,SASOL Birds of Southern Africa,ISBN 1-86872-721-1
