Pink-billed lark facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pink-billed lark
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Alaudidae
Genus:	Spizocorys
Species:	S. conirostris
Binomial name
Spizocorys conirostris (Sundevall, 1850)
Subspecies
See text
Range
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Synonyms
Alauda conirostris Calandrella conirostris

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The pink-billed lark (scientific name: Spizocorys conirostris) is a small bird. It belongs to the lark family, called Alaudidae. You can find these birds living in southern Africa. Their natural habitat is dry, low-lying grassland areas. Scientists have noted that these larks often have a low success rate when it comes to breeding.

About the Pink-Billed Lark's Family Tree

When scientists study animals, they group them based on how they are related. This is called taxonomy. The pink-billed lark was first placed in a group called Alauda. Later, some experts thought it belonged in the Calandrella group instead. Now, it has its own special group, Spizocorys.

Different Types of Pink-Billed Larks

Within the pink-billed lark species, there are six different types. These are called subspecies. They are slightly different depending on where they live.

• Damara pink-billed lark (S. c. damarensis): This type lives in north-western Namibia. It was named by Austin Roberts in 1922.
• S. c. crypta: This subspecies is found in north-eastern Botswana. Michael Patrick Stuart Irwin named it in 1957.
• S. c. makawai: You can find this type in western Zambia. Melvin Alvah Traylor, Jr. named it in 1962.
• S. c. harti: This one lives in south-western Zambia. Constantine Walter Benson named it in 1964.
• S. c. barlowi: This subspecies is found in southern Namibia, southern Botswana, and north-western South Africa. Roberts named it in 1942.
• S. c. conirostris: This is the original type. It lives in south-eastern Botswana and parts of South Africa. Carl Jakob Sundevall named it in 1850.

What Does the Pink-Billed Lark Sound Like?

Pink-billed larks make many different sounds. Scientists have recorded twelve types of calls! These calls help them communicate with each other.

• Begging Call: Baby larks, called nestlings, make a soft hissing or peeping sound. They do this when they see a parent flying towards their nest. It's their way of saying, "Feed me!"
• Distress Call: If a nestling is in trouble, it makes a harsh, quick sound. This call lets parents know something is wrong.
• Feeding Call: When parent larks feed their babies, they make a soft chi-chi-chi sound.
• Threat Call: If a pink-billed lark feels threatened, it makes a harsh, scratchy sound.
• Appeasement Calls: Parents use these calls when they are sitting on their eggs. They can be chattering or metallic sounds.
• Alarm Call: This call is a quick sound that rises sharply and then slowly fades. Larks mostly make this sound when they are flying. It warns others of danger.
• Attack Call: When a pink-billed lark chases another one, it makes a series of tsk sounds.
• Cricket Call: This call is soft and fast. Larks often make it while flying.
• Foraging Calls: When larks are looking for food, they make soft sounds with different noises mixed in.
• Flight Call: This call is high-pitched. Each bird might have its own unique flight call. They usually make this sound when flying in groups.
• Flight Song: Male larks sing a special song while performing a display in the air. This song is fast and quick.
  • The bird flies straight up silently. Then, it starts singing its flight song. It flies in a wiggly way while singing. This song usually lasts less than a minute. Sometimes, after singing, the bird will fly sharply downwards.