Archer's lark

Archer's lark
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Alaudidae
Genus: Heteromirafra
Species: H. archeri
Binomial name
Heteromirafra archeri
Clarke, 1920
Synonyms
  • Heteromirafra ruddi archeri
  • Mirafra archeri

Archer's lark (Heteromirafra archeri) is a species of lark in the Alaudidae family. It is found in Somalia and Ethiopia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland. It is threatened by habitat loss. The bird’s common name and binomial commemorate the British explorer and colonial official Sir Geoffrey Francis Archer.[2]

Taxonomy and systematics

Formerly, Archer's lark has been considered by some authorities as belonging to the genus Mirafra.[3] The Sidamo lark was previously considered as a separate species (as H. sidamoensis) and by some authorities as a subspecies of Archer's lark (as H. a. sidamoensis), but since 2014 has been considered conspecific with Archer's lark.[4][5] Note that the alternate names "long-clawed lark" and "Sidamo lark" are also used as alternate names by Rudd's lark and Degodi lark respectively. Some authorities have also considered Archer's lark to be a subspecies of Rudd's lark.[3] The alternate name "Somail lark" is more commonly used by the species of the same name, Mirafra somalica, but also as an alternate name for Sharpe's lark.[6] Other alternate names for Archer's lark include Archer's long-clawed lark, Ethiopian long-clawed lark, Liben lark, Sidamo bushlark, Sidamo long-clawed lark and Somali long-clawed lark.

Description

Archer’s lark is about 14 cm long, with a relatively large head and short, plump body. It has buff underparts with a streaky breast. Its plumage is predominantly brown and reddish brown. It has a short, thin tail which is brown with white outer feathers.[7] The call is unknown.[7]

Behaviour

The birds are largely terrestrial and their behaviour is cryptic. Though quite capable of flight, they often prefer to conceal themselves in vegetation.[8]

Breeding

Nests have been found in summer. Clutch-size is three.[7]

Feeding

Its diet is likely to consist of seeds and small invertebrates, including worms.

Distribution and habitat

The bird's preferred habitat is open grasslands and rocky country, vegetated with tussocky perennial grasses and having an annual rainfall of 300–400 mm.[9] The total area in which Archer's lark can be found is estimated to be only 52 km2, largely in Ethiopia.[9] The birds have not been recorded from the Wajaale clay plains on the border of Ethiopia and Somaliland since 1922.[10] Due to habitat loss, Archer's lark has not been found in Somalia, since at least 1970.[11][12]

Status and conservation

The population is estimated to number 50-250 mature individuals, based on a lack of confirmed sightings despite several searches having been conducted since 1955 in Somalia and Ethiopia.[11] One of the last possible sightings of the bird was in Ethiopia in 2003. The species was declared critically endangered in 2005 and a conversation program to restore and protect grasslands has been initiated.[7]

In 2011, David Hoddinott and his bird watching group had a sighting of a bird that may have been an Archer's lark in north-eastern Ethiopia. They were able to get a photograph which is being studied to confirm the observation.[13]

Threats

Since 1922 much former habitat in Somalia has been occupied by refugees and turned into farmland. Grassland is being degraded by the invasive plant Parthenium hysterophorus.[12] Apart from habitat loss to agriculture, pastoralism and invasive weeds, threats include wildfire, severe weather events and climate change.

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2015). "Heteromirafra archeri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2016.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  2. ↑ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael (2003). Whose Bird? Men and Women Commemorated in the Common Names of Birds. London: Christopher Helm. p. 29.
  3. 1 2 "Heteromirafra archeri - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
  4. ↑ "Heteromirafra sidamoensis - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
  5. ↑ "Species 4.1 to 4.4 « IOC World Bird List". www.worldbirdnames.org. Retrieved 2016-11-20.
  6. ↑ "Mirafra sharpii - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-11-29.
  7. 1 2 3 4 BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Heteromirafra archeri. Retrieved 25 October 2012
  8. ↑ Butchart, Stuart. "Birds to Find: A Review of ‘lost’, Obscure and Poorly Known African Bird Species." Bull ABC, 2007. Web. 22 Oct. 2012.
  9. 1 2 "Heteromirafra archeri (Archer's Lark, Liben Lark, Sidamo Lark)". www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
  10. ↑ Birding Africa, June 2010. "Archer's Lark Grasslands in Somaliland Invaded by Noxious Parthenium Weed". Retrieved 25 October 2012
  11. 1 2 Paul F. Donald, Graeme M. Buchanan, Nigel J. Collar, Yilma Dellelegn Abebe, Merid N. Gabremichael, M. A. Kiragu Mwangi, Paul Kariuki Ndang'ang'a, Claire N. Spottiswoode and Mengistu Wondafrash (2010). Rapid declines in habitat quality and population size of the Liben (Sidamo) Lark Heteromirafra sidamoensis necessitate immediate conservation action. Bird Conservation International, 20, pp 112 doi:10.1017/S0959270910000018
  12. 1 2 "Archer's Lark." Species2011S. Web. 25 Oct. 2012. <http://species2011s.wikispaces.com/4 Archer's Lark>
  13. ↑ Rock Jumping Team. "Rockjumper - Worldwide Birding Adventures: Significant Ethiopian Discovery - Heteromirafra Larks by David Hoddinott". 16 May 2011. Retrieved 25 Oct. 2012.
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