Friedmann's lark

Friedmann's lark
Conservation status
	; Data Deficient (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Alaudidae
Genus:	Mirafra
Species:	M. pulpa
Binomial name
	Mirafra pulpa; Friedmann, 1930
Synonyms
	Mirafra cantillans marginata;

Friedmann's lark (Mirafra pulpa) is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in East Africa.

Taxonomy and systematics

Formerly, some authorities considered Friedmann's lark to be a subspecies of the singing bush lark.^[2] Alternate names for the species include Friedmann's bush lark, rufous lark and Sagon lark.

Description

It is best identified by its distinctive song; a long, drawn-out singular note, hoo-ee-oo (with slight stress on the ee), repeated at 1 or 2 second intervals. It is heard more often at night, and given while atop a bush or during undulating display flights.^[3]

Distribution and habitat

Friedmann's lark is found in southern Ethiopia, central and south-eastern Kenya, and north-eastern Tanzania, but its population and exact range are very poorly known.^[3] The type specimen was collected in Ethiopia (from the Konso-Sagan area) in 1992, having been seen only one time since, in 1998; but most of what is known comes primarily from data collected in Tsavo East and West National Parks, in Kenya.^[3] There are also a few records from Tanzania, from Mkomazi Game Reserve, south of Arusha.^[3]

In general, the natural habitats of Friedmann's lark are subtropical or tropical dry lowland grasslands.^[4] Being aloof and shy, it apparently chooses the moister (or less dry), ranker-growing of these areas, and where it can find it, those with more bush-cover. This is in contrast to the more dry, and more open environs preferred by many other species of lark.^[3]

Behaviour and ecology

It is nearly always witnessed only during certain times of year (in Tanzania, during rainy season, for example), to the exclusion of other times; and often amongst other migrant species. These observations would seem to suggest that it is a migratory bird, but more corroborating data is needed to make a definitive determination.^[3]

Friedmann's lark appears to subsist mainly on small beetles, grasshoppers and other insects, as well as grass seeds.^[3]

References

^ BirdLife International (2016). "Mirafra pulpa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22717033A94518753. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22717033A94518753.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^ "Mirafra pulpa - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-11-29.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Phil Benstead, et al.; Friedmann's Lark - BirdLife Species Factsheet
^ "Friedmann's Lark - BirdLife Species Factsheet (Additional Data)". BirdLife International. 2008. Retrieved May 6, 2009.

Cited works

Phil Benstead; Stuart Butchart; Mike Evans; Pete Robertson; Malcolm Starkey; Andy Symes; John S. Ash; Neil Baker; Donald Turner (2008). "Friedmann's Lark - BirdLife Species Factsheet". Evaluators: Jeremy Bird, Stuart Butchart, Alison Stattersfield. BirdLife International. Retrieved May 6, 2009.