Red-winged lark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red-winged lark |
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| Conservation status | |
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Mirafra
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| Species: |
hypermetra
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| Subspecies | |
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The Red-winged Lark (scientific name: Mirafra hypermetra) is a type of lark, a small bird known for its singing. It belongs to the Alaudidae family and lives in eastern Africa. This bird gets its name from the reddish color on its wings.
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About the Red-winged Lark
The Red-winged Lark looks a lot like the Rufous-naped Lark, but it's usually bigger. It has a stronger beak and a longer tail. Even though these two larks can sometimes live in the same areas, they don't mix their features or songs. This helps scientists tell them apart.
Where the Red-winged Lark Lives
The Red-winged Lark can be found in many parts of eastern Africa. It lives in countries like Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. Its home range is quite large, covering about 660,000 square kilometers.
These birds prefer to live in savanna areas. Savannas are like open grasslands with scattered trees. They like dry, warm places at lower elevations. Scientists believe there are many Red-winged Larks, but they haven't counted the exact number yet.
Red-winged Lark Family Tree
Scientists group animals based on how they are related. The Red-winged Lark is part of a "species complex." This means it's closely related to other larks, like the Rufous-naped Lark and possibly the Somali Lark. These larks might have developed into different species because they live in separate areas.
Sometimes, the name "Red-winged Lark" can be confusing. It's occasionally used for the Indian bush lark. Also, names like "red-winged bush lark" or "rufous-winged bush lark" might refer to the Indian bush lark or the Bengal bush lark.
Types of Red-winged Larks
There are four different types, or subspecies, of the Red-winged Lark:
- M. h. kathangorensis: This type is found in the southeastern part of Sudan.
- M. h. kidepoensis: You can find this one in southern Sudan and northeastern Uganda.
- Galla red-winged lark (M. h. gallarum): This subspecies lives in Ethiopia.
- M. h. hypermetra: This type is found from southern Somalia down to northeastern Tanzania.
