Jerdon's bush lark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jerdon's bush lark |
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| in Sri Lanka |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Mirafra
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| Species: |
affinis
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| range in bright green | |
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The Jerdon's bush lark (scientific name: Mirafra affinis) is a small bird from the lark family. You can find this bird in parts of South Asia, especially in India and Sri Lanka. It's also sometimes called the Jerdon's lark.
This bird used to be thought of as a type of Mirafra assamica, and was known as the Madras bushlark. However, scientists now consider it a separate species. Jerdon's bush larks usually have very light-colored undersides.
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About the Name
This bird is named after a famous surgeon and naturalist, Thomas C. Jerdon. He was a scientist who studied nature, including birds.
For a long time, the Jerdon's bush lark was seen as a subspecies of the Bengal bush lark. Its full name was M. assamica affinis. But scientists later studied their calls and where they lived. They found enough differences to make it a separate species. Still, not all bird experts agree on this split.
What Jerdon's Bush Lark Looks Like
The Jerdon's bush lark has special arrowhead-shaped spots on its chest. These spots point upwards. It looks a lot like the Indian bush lark (M. erythroptera).
However, there are small differences. The Jerdon's bush lark has buffy (light yellowish-brown) feathers near its eyes. It also has less white behind its ears. The centers of its wing feathers and central tail feathers are darker. The dark parts of its primary wing feathers are easy to see. Its wing areas are also duller and more reddish-brown.
In the southern Western Ghats (a mountain range in India), there's a type called ceylonensis. These birds are darker and more reddish-brown on their undersides. They also have a longer beak. Overall, Jerdon's bush larks have paler, grayish-brown feathers on their undersides.
The song of the Jerdon's bush lark sounds like a dry rattle. They often sing this song from a perch, like a branch or wire.
Where Jerdon's Bush Lark Lives
Jerdon's bush larks live in a large area across south-east India and Sri Lanka. Scientists estimate their living space covers a huge area, from 100,000 to 1,000,000 square kilometers.
These birds can live in many different open places. They can be found up to 1500 meters (about 4,900 feet) above sea level. They like the edges of forests and rocky areas with scrub bushes. You might also see them in grassy hill meadows or clearings in open forests. They also live in unused farmlands with thick bushes and areas with bamboo plants.
How Jerdon's Bush Lark Behaves
The Jerdon's bush lark has a special "song-flight." This is when they fly up into the air while singing. Their song-flight is similar to that of the Indian bush lark.
However, Jerdon's bush larks are different in one way. They often perch on trees and wires. The Indian bush lark usually stays closer to the ground.
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