Jerdon's Bushlark

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Jerdon's Bushlark
Conservation status
Least Concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Alaudidae Genus: Mirafra Species: M. affinis
Binomial name
Mirafra affinis Blyth, 1845

The Jerdon's Bushlark Mirafra affinis is a bushlark of the open countryside found in southern India. This species was earlier considered a subspecies of the Rufous-winged Bushlark Mirafra assamica. However recent work by Per Alstrom based on the call differences and distribution have led to it being treated as a full species.

[edit] Description

Has arrowhead like spots pointing upwards on the breast. Very similar to Indian Bushlark but has buffy lores, less white behind ear coverts. Darker centre to wing coverts and central tail feathers. Dark centres of primary coverts are prominent. Duller rufous wing panel. In southern Western Ghats race ceylonensis is darker and more rufous on the underside and a longer bill. Often perches on trees and wires unlike the Indian Bushlark. Song flight is not distinguishable from that of Indian Bushlark. (Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005)

[edit] References

• BirdLife International (2006). Mirafra affinis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006.
• Alstrom, P. (1998) Taxonomy of the Mirafra assamica complex. Forktail 13:97-107
• Rasmussen, P. C. and Anderton, J. C. (2005) Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide. Lynx Edicions.