The pink-billed lark (Spizocorys conirostris) is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in southern Africa. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland. It is described as having a low breeding success rate.
Taxonomy and systematics
The pink-billed lark was originally classified within the genus Alauda. Some authorities have placed the pink-billed lark in the genus Calandrella.
Subspecies
Six subspecies are recognized:
- Damara pink-billed lark (S. c. damarensis) - <small>Roberts, 1922</small>: Alternately named Kenya short-toed lark (a name also used by the Athi short-toed lark). Found in north-western Namibia
- S. c. crypta - <small>(Irwin, 1957)</small>: Found in north-eastern Botswana
- S. c. makawai - <small>(Traylor, 1962)</small>: Found in western Zambia
- S. c. harti - <small>(Benson, 1964)</small>: Found in south-western Zambia
- S. c. barlowi - <small>Roberts, 1942</small>: Found in southern Namibia, southern Botswana and north-western South Africa
- S. c. conirostris - <small>(Sundevall, 1850)</small>: Found in south-eastern Botswana, northern, central and eastern South Africa
Vocalizations
Twelve types of vocalizations have been recorded.
- Nestling begging call: nestlings hiss or peep when they see a parent flying toward the nest.
- Nestling distress call: nestlings make a harsh pulsed call when in distress
- Nestling feeding call: parents make a soft chi-chi-chi sound when feeding nestlings
- Threat call: harsh and grating
- Appeasement calls: either chattering or metallic, made by parents during incubation
- Alarm call: pulsed, with a sharp rise then gradual fall in frequency. Mostly made while in flight.
- Attack call: series of tsks, made while chasing other pink-billed larks
- Cricket call: soft and rapid, often made while in flight
- Foraging calls: soft, with mixed sounds
- Flight call: high-pitched, possibly unique to each individual. Usually made while flying in flocks
- Flight song: made by males when performing aerial display. Rapid and pulsed.
- The bird stays silent while steeply ascending, then begins singing. It then flies irregularly while singing its flight song, which usually lasts less than a minute. It sometimes then descends sharply.
References
External links