Large-billed Lark (Galerida magnirostris)

Other Names (World)
Large-billed Lark, Thick-billed Lark(!), Southern Thick-billed Lark(!)

Family
Alaudidae (Larks)

Size
18 cm

First Described (Guide)
(Stephens, 1826)

Habitat
Grassland and scrublands, and open and fallow fields.

Range (Guide)

Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa.

Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).

Status LC
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Voice
Highly vocal. A far-carrying, ascending 'troo-lee-liiii', like a rusty gate being opened. Mimics other birds.

Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (60)...)

Large-billed Lark (Galerida magnirostris) [XC405695]
by Dawie de Swardt from Klipheuwek, Moorreesburg area, Western Cape, South Africa (call)

Large-billed Lark (Galerida magnirostris) [XC478276]
by Dawie de Swardt from Westend, near Jagersfontein rd, Free State, South Africa (call)

Subspecies
Has sometimes been placed in a monotypic genus Calendula. Has been considered to form a superspecies with Sun Lark (Galerida modesta), also including Short-tailed Lark (Spizocorys fremantlii) when that placed in present genus, but differences appear too great for such treatment to be warranted. Geographical variation largely clinal, with clines of increasing body size and decreasing bill size from west to east. Birds from Lesotho sometimes separated as subspecies montivaga, but probably better merged with harei.

The following 3 subspecies are recognised:

sedentaria Clancey, 1993 - Karoo areas of extreme south-western Namibia and western South Africa (east to Griqualand West).
magnirostris (Stephens, 1826) - Winter rainfall area of south-western South Africa.
harei (Roberts, 1924) - Western grasslands of South Africa and Lesotho.

References
See References.

Files:

JPG files for Large-billed Lark (Galerida magnirostris) - 10 files

More Information

BirdLife International

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BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

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