Ash's lark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ash's lark |
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Mirafra
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ashi
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Ash's lark (Mirafra ashi) is a special type of bird called a lark. It lives only in Somalia, a country in Africa. This means it is endemic to Somalia, found nowhere else in the world. It is also sometimes called Ash's bushlark.
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What's in a Name?
This bird is named after a British bird expert, John Sidney Ash. He was an ornithologist, which is a scientist who studies birds. The scientific name, Mirafra ashi, also honors him.
What Does Ash's Lark Look Like?
Ash's lark is a small bird, about 14 centimeters (5.5 inches) long. Its back and wings are greyish-brown. The feathers on its back have lighter edges.
Its belly and the underside of its body are a light, yellowish-brown color. It has brownish streaks on its chest. It also has a light crest on its head and light stripes above its eyes.
It can be tricky to tell Ash's lark apart from other larks. It is smaller than birds like the rufous-naped lark or the red-winged lark. Ash's lark also looks more grey and has more markings on its back than the singing lark or the pink-breasted lark.
Scientists have not yet identified the songs of Ash's lark.
Where Does Ash's Lark Live?
Ash's lark is found in a very small area in south-eastern Somalia. This area is just north of a place called Uarsciek. It's about 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of the city of Mogadishu.
It's hard to find out how many Ash's larks there are. This is because it shares its home with nine other types of larks. Also, it has been difficult for scientists to study birds in this region for many years.
Ash's lark likes to live in dry, flat grasslands. These are often found near the coast. It is possible that this bird also lives a bit further north along the coast. This area has not been explored much by bird experts.
How Does Ash's Lark Behave?
Ash's lark often runs across open ground. It moves between clumps of grass. Then, it might perch on top of a tall clump of grass called a tussock.
This bird is facing a threat to its home. Its natural grassland habitat is being lost. This is happening because of new buildings and developments along the coast.
Scientists still have a lot to learn about how Ash's lark interacts with other plants and animals in its environment.
See Also
- List of birds of Somalia
