Chestnut-backed sparrow-lark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chestnut-backed sparrow-lark |
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The chestnut-backed sparrow-lark (Eremopterix leucotis) is a small passerine bird. It lives in Africa, mainly south of the Sahara Desert. These birds stay in the same area all year round.
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About the Chestnut-Backed Sparrow-Lark
This bird was first put into a different bird group called Loxia. Later, scientists decided it belonged to the lark family, called Alaudidae. It is now part of the Eremopterix group, which includes other sparrow-larks. People sometimes call it the chestnut-backed finch-lark or the white-cheeked sparrow-lark.
Different Types of Chestnut-Backed Sparrow-Larks
There are five main types, or subspecies, of the chestnut-backed sparrow-lark. They look a bit different and live in various parts of Africa:
- Senegal chestnut-backed finch-lark (E. l. melanocephalus): You can find this type from Senegal and Gambia all the way to central Sudan.
- E. l. leucotis: This type lives in southern and eastern Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and northwestern Somalia.
- East African chestnut-backed finch-lark (E. l. madaraszi): This one is found from southern Somalia and Kenya down to northern Malawi and northern Mozambique.
- E. l. hoeschi: This type lives in southern Angola, northern Namibia, and western Zimbabwe.
- South African chestnut-backed finch-lark (E. l. smithi): You can see this type from southern Zambia and southern Malawi to eastern South Africa.
What Does a Chestnut-Backed Sparrow-Lark Look Like?
This is a small bird, only about 11 centimeters (about 4.3 inches) long.
Male Birds
The male bird is quite striking. It has a solid black belly and head. But it has bright white patches on the back of its neck and behind its eyes. Its upper body and wings are a chestnut (reddish-brown) color, with some dark stripes. The beak is thick and grey.
Female Birds
The female chestnut-backed sparrow-lark looks a bit plainer. Her belly and head are a buff-white color with many streaks. She also has a white collar around her neck. Her upper body is chestnut with mottled (spotty) patterns. Young birds look similar to the female.
Where Do They Live?
This lark prefers open, dry places. You can often find them in grasslands and dry savannas. They especially like areas where the grass has recently burned, open fields, and gravel plains. They move along the ground in bare spots, looking for food.
These birds usually stay in one area, but sometimes they move around. Scientists are still learning about their movements. In some parts of Northeast Africa, you might see them in groups with chestnut-headed sparrow-larks.
How Do They Behave?
Chestnut-backed sparrow-larks build their nests on the ground. The female usually lays one egg. They eat both insects and seeds.
