Chestnut-headed sparrow-lark

The chestnut-headed sparrow-lark (Eremopterix signatus) or chestnut-headed finch-lark is a species of passerine bird in the family Alaudidae. It is found in eastern and north-eastern Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, and hot deserts.

Chestnut-headed sparrow-lark

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Alaudidae
Genus: Eremopterix
Species:
E. signatus
Binomial name
Eremopterix signatus
(Oustalet, 1886)
Subspecies

See text

Synonyms
  • Eremopterix signata
  • Pyrrhulauda signata

Taxonomy and systematics

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized:[2]

  • E. s. harrisoni - (Ogilvie-Grant, 1900): Found in south-eastern Sudan and north-western Kenya
  • E. s. signatus - (Oustalet, 1886): Found in southern and eastern Ethiopia, Somalia and eastern Kenya

Description

The male chestnut-headed sparrow-lark has a black collar and bib, white cheeks and a white circular area on the nape of the crown, surrounded by a chestnut border. This distinguishes it from Fischer's sparrow-lark which lacks the white spot. The female has duller plumage.

Behaviour and ecology

This bird is usually found in pairs or small flocks of up to forty birds, often around water holes. It flies low to the ground and may sing in flight or when standing on bare ground.[3]

gollark: ~play why communism is bad
gollark: ~remove 1
gollark: ~play explanation of communism badness
gollark: ~play be quiet
gollark: ~skip

References
  1. BirdLife International (2012). "Eremopterix signatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  2. "IOC World Bird List 6.4". IOC World Bird List Datasets. doi:10.14344/ioc.ml.6.4.
  3. Kenya Birds Archived 2011-06-11 at the Wayback Machine


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