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Indian bush lark
	At Fulzar Dam
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Alaudidae
Genus:	Plocealauda
Species:	P. erythroptera
Binomial name
	Plocealauda erythroptera; (Blyth, 1845)

The Indian bush lark (Mirafra erythroptera) is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in South Asia.

Taxonomy and systematics

The Indian bush lark was formerly placed in the genus Mirafra. It is one of five species moved to a newly erected genus, Plocealauda, based on evidence from a large molecular genetic study published in 2023.^[2]^[3] The species is monotypic: no subspecies are recognised.^[2]

The alternate names "red-winged lark" and "red-winged bush lark" are more commonly used to describe the red-winged lark (M. hypermetra).^[4] Other alternate names of the Indian bush lark are "Indian lark", "Indian red-winged lark", "red-winged singing bushlark" and "rusty-winged lark".

Description

The plumage of the Indian bush lark is pale and it has a cheek patch completely bounded by a white supercilium and post-auricular border. The crown and upper-parts are heavily streaked. The pale underparts have large spots on the breast. Most of its wing coverts, tertials and central tail feathers have pale centres. The primary coverts look all brown. The rufous wing bars are diagnostic but care must be taken not to confuse the bird with Jerdon's bush lark in the central Western Ghats and country around where their ranges overlap. Jerdon's bush lark is darker with more rufous on the wings. It is distinguished from Jerdon's bush lark by its shorter bill and legs and longer tail.

It sings from bush tops but does not usually perch on trees or wires. The calls are similar to that of Jerdon's bush lark but are lower and have longer rattling tremolos often falling in pitch.^[5]

Distribution and habitat

The Indian bush lark is most commonly found in arid areas. It is found in Pakistan and north-western, central and south-central India.

Behaviour and ecology

The song-flight during the mating season is an amazing spectacle. The bird flutters high over the ground, then holds its wings in an open "V" and "parachutes" down to its perch uttering its song consisting of short tweets and cheeps in three syllables followed by a longer fourth syllable. This combination is repeated till the bird perches again.

Gallery

Indian bushlark (Mirafra erythroptera)
Indian bushlark at Rajkot

References

^ BirdLife International (2017). "Mirafra erythroptera". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T22717092A118711103. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T22717092A118711103.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^ ^a ^b Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (August 2024). "Nicators, Bearded Reedling, larks". IOC World Bird List Version 14.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
^ Alström, P.; Mohammadi, Z.; Enbody, E.D.; Irestedt, M.; Engelbrecht, D.; Crochet, P.-A.; Guillaumet, A.; Rancilhac, L.; Tieleman, B.I.; Olsson, U.; Donald, P.F.; Stervander, M. (2023). "Systematics of the avian family Alaudidae using multilocus and genomic data". Avian Research. 14: 100095. doi:10.1016/j.avrs.2023.100095.
^ "Mirafra hypermetra - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-11-28.
^ P.C. Rasmussen & J.C. Anderton (2005). Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide. Lynx Edicions.

Compilers: Stuart Butchart, Jonathan Ekstrom (2008). "Indian Lark - BirdLife Species Factsheet". Evaluators: Jeremy Bird, Stuart Butchart. BirdLife International. Retrieved May 10, 2009.