Red-capped lark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red-capped lark |
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| Mapungubwe, South Africa | |
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| Genus: |
Calandrella
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| Species: |
cinerea
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Approximate range
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The red-capped lark (Calandrella cinerea) is a small passerine bird, which means it's a type of songbird. These larks live and have their babies in the high areas of eastern Africa, starting from Ethiopia and Somaliland. Further south, you can find them all the way across Africa to Angola and down to the Cape in South Africa.
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About the Red-Capped Lark
The red-capped lark was first officially described in 1789 by a German scientist named Johann Friedrich Gmelin. He put it in the same group as other larks, calling it Alauda cinerea. The name cinerea comes from a Latin word meaning "ash-grey." Later, in 1829, another German scientist, Johann Jakob Kaup, created a new group called Calandrella for this bird and five other similar species. The name Calandrella is a smaller version of an old Greek word for the calandra lark.
The red-capped lark used to be thought of as the same species as a few other larks, like the Mongolian lark and the greater short-toed lark. But now, scientists know they are different species. Sometimes, the red-capped lark is also called the rufous short-toed lark or African short-toed lark.
Different Types of Red-Capped Larks
Scientists recognize five different types, or subspecies, of the red-capped lark. These types are slightly different depending on where they live:
- C. c. rufipecta – Found in the Jos Plateau area of Nigeria.
- C. c. williamsi – Lives in central Kenya.
- C. c. saturatior – Found from Uganda and western Kenya down to Angola, northern Namibia, northern Botswana, and Zambia.
- C. c. spleniata – Lives in west-central Angola to west-central Namibia.
- C. c. cinerea – This type is found in southern and central Namibia, southern Botswana, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.
What Does a Red-Capped Lark Look Like?
The red-capped lark is about 14 to 15 centimeters (about 5.5 to 6 inches) long. It usually stands up straight. Its back feathers can be streaky grey or brown, and the exact color changes a bit between the different types of larks.
You can easily spot this bird by its reddish-brown cap on its head, its white belly, and its red patches on its shoulders. It has a short crest of feathers on its head, but you usually only notice it when the bird raises it during its courtship dance. Both male and female larks look very similar. Young larks don't have the red cap or shoulders. Instead, they have dark spots on their chest and white spots on their dark brown backs.
The red-capped lark makes a sound like a sparrow, which is a tshwerp. When it's flying around to show off, its song is a mix of whistles and short trills. It's also known to copy the calls of other birds!
Where Do Red-Capped Larks Live?
This bird likes to live in areas with short grass, including farm fields that are not being used. In eastern Africa, you'll find them in highlands, usually above 1,000 meters (about 3,300 feet) high. However, in the cooler southern parts of its range, they can live closer to sea level if the habitat is right.
Red-Capped Lark Behavior and Life Cycle
How Red-Capped Larks Have Babies
Red-capped larks can have babies all year long, but they mostly breed from September to December. The female bird usually builds the nest, which takes about 4 to 5 days. The nest is shaped like an open cup and is built into the ground. It's often hidden near a clump of grass, a stone, or a small mound. The inside of the nest is lined with soft grass and tiny roots.
The female lays 2 to 3 eggs, one each day. She sits on the eggs to keep them warm, and the male brings her food. The eggs hatch at about the same time, after 12 to 15 days. Both parents feed and take care of the baby chicks for about 9 to 18 days.
What Red-Capped Larks Eat
The red-capped lark looks for food on bare ground or in very short grass. It moves with quick little runs to find seeds and insects to eat. Sometimes, you can see them in large groups, with hundreds of birds together.
Images for kids
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Mapungubwe, South Africa
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Map showing the distribution in Africa
