Degodi lark

Degodi lark
Conservation status
Not recognized (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Alaudidae
Genus: Mirafra
Species: M. gilletti
Trinomial name
Mirafra gilletti degodiensis
(Érard, 1976)

The Degodi lark (Mirafra gilletti degodiensis) is a lark in the Alaudidae family endemic to Ethiopia. It is now often considered a subspecies of the Gillett's lark.

Identification

The Degodi lark is a small (14 cm long), slender lark, with abundant streaking, very similar to a pipit (Anthus). There are markings on the breast faint on light, buff underbelly. The voice is a 4- to 6-note trill; twill-ill-ill-ill-ill, and shorter tsee-tsee.[1]

Habitat and diet

Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. It eats caterpillars and small orthopterans and is found among low acacia bushes on bare soil, with scattered Commiphora bushes and other species. It is often seen using bushes for perches. It is threatened by habitat loss.[1]

Range and population

There is, at present, no more than a rough sketch of Mirafra degodiensis, gleaned from infrequently gathered facts. This, as well, goes for its population and range, but it is believed to have a very small population. Its known range covers about 400 square kilometres, possibly up to 2,000 square kilometres. It is seen most reliably east of Bogol Manya, Ethiopia.[1]

Taxonomy

In 2009 the IUCN treated Mirafra degodiensis as a synonym of Mirafra gilletti (Gillett's lark), which it assessed as being of least concern.[2]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Compilers: Jonathan Ekstrom, Sue Shutes, Malcolm Starkey, Joe Taylor; Contributor: Ian Sinclair (2008). "Degodi Lark - BirdLife Species Factsheet". Evaluators: Stuart Butchart, Joe Taylor. BirdLife International . Retrieved May 11, 2009.
  2. ↑ BirdLife International (2009). "Mirafra gilletti". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.1. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 5 August 2011.