Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix verticalis)

Other Names (World)
Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark, Gray-backed Sparrow-Lark, Grey-backed Finch-lark, Gray-backed Finch-lark

Family
Alaudidae (Larks)

Size
12 - 13 cm

First Described (Guide)
(Smith, 1836)

Habitat
Subtropical and tropical lowland dry grassland.

Range (Guide)

Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Vagrant to Lesotho.

Unknown to Congo [The Democratic Republic of the].

Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).

Status LC
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Voice
A sharp 'chruk, chruk', uttered in flight.

Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (10)...)

Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix verticalis) [XC346803]
by Lynette Rudman from Etosha National Park, Namibia (call)

Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix verticalis) [XC58661]
by Peter Boesman from Okaukuejo, Namibia (call)

Subspecies
Relationships uncertain. Suggested as forming a superspecies with Chestnut-headed Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix signatus), sometimes expanded to include also Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix nigriceps) and Fischer's Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix leucopareia). Precise breeding ranges of subspecies inadequately understood. Birds breeding in south-western Zambia of uncertain racial identity and presumably include harti, but all four subspecies recorded in that country.

The following 4 subspecies are recognised:

damarensis Roberts, 1931 - Coastal Angola (including Cabinda), Namibia, western Botswana and north-western South Africa; periodic eruptions east to western Zambia and western Zimbabwe.
harti Benson & Irwin, 1965 - Western Zambia.
khama Irwin, 1957 - North-eastern Botswana and western Zimbabwe; periodic eruptions north-east to western Zambia.
verticalis (Smith, 1836) - South-western Zimbabwe, south-eastern Botswana and South Africa (except north-west); periodic eruptions north to western Zambia.

References
See References.

Files:

JPG files for Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix verticalis) - 10 files

More Information

BirdLife International

For more information about the Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark see... Show Articles

BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Articles about the Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark

If you would like to read any articles about the Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark...

Show Articles (0)

No Pictures of Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark

If Birdpedia has no pictures of Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark or you would like to see more, then try the following...

Show External Images from BING

From BING (10)

No Videos of Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark

If Birdpedia has no videos of Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark or you would like to see more, then try the following..

Show External Videos

From BING (0)