Williams's lark
| Williams's lark | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Alaudidae |
| Genus: | Mirafra |
| Species: | M. williamsi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Mirafra williamsi Macdonald, 1956
| |
| |
Williams's lark (Mirafra williamsi) is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. Discovered in 1955, much of its life and ecology is still a mystery to ornithology.[2]
Taxonomy and systematics[edit]
The bird is named after John George Williams (1913–1997) a British ornithologist who was curator of the Coryndon Museum in Nairobi, Kenya (now called the National Museums of Kenya).[3] Alternate names for Williams's lark include Marsabit lark and Williams's bush lark.[4]
Distribution and habitat[edit]
In general, the natural habitat of M. williamsi is subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. Its range is restricted to northern Kenya where it is found in two disjunct populations:
One population is located north of Marsabit, in the Didi Galgalla desert, a region marked by plains of rocky, red lava soils and patches of short-grass and bushes.[2]
The other inhabits a particular area (elevated between 600 m and 1,350 m) lying between Isiolo and Garba Tula. It has even, unbroken communities of Barleria shrubs.[2]
Behaviour and ecology[edit]
The males of the species perform long, drawn-out, conspicuous song-flights above their territories after the rains at dawn, making them easy to find at this time.[2]
Food and feeding[edit]
Williams's larks consume various seeds and insects.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ BirdLife International (2018). "Mirafra williamsi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22717028A131748247. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22717028A131748247.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Jeremy Bird, Stuart Butchart; Mike Evans; Pete Robertson; Malcolm Starkey; Andy Symes (2008). "Williams's Lark – BirdLife Species Factsheet". Evaluators: Jeremy Bird, Stuart Butchart, Alison Stattersfield. B Finch. BirdLife International. Retrieved May 9, 2009.
- ^ Beolens, Bo (2003). Whose Bird? Men and Women commemorated in the common names of birds. London: Christopher Helm. p. 368. ISBN 0-7136-6647-1.
- ^ "Mirafra williamsi – Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-12-10.
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