Rufous-winged Bushlark

Rufous-winged Bush Lark
At Joka in Kolkata.
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Alaudidae
Genus:	Mirafra
Species:	M. assamica
Binomial name
Mirafra assamica Horsfield, 1840

The Rufous-winged Bush Lark (Mirafra assamica^[2]) is a small passerine bird.

Description

It is short-tailed and has a strong stout bill. In size it is not as long as the Skylark, measuring about 15 centimeters. (See below for more.)

Range and population

It is a resident breeder in the Indian subcontinent and southeast Asia, with an estimated global Extent of Occurrence of 100,000-1,000,000 square km.^[1]

Habits and habitat

In Kolkata.

The Rufous-winged Bush Lark is a common bird of dry, open, stony country often with sparse shrubbery, and cultivated areas. It nests on the ground, laying three or four speckled eggs. This lark feeds primarily on seeds and insects, especially the latter during the breeding season.

Taxonomic changes

Showing wing colour while preening in Kolkata.

The differences within the genus Mirafra are often very subtle and confusing with many differences apparent only when specimens are examined in hand.

The Rufous-winged Bushlark was earlier classified into several races, the Bengal race assamica and the Madras race affinis. These were subsequently split, on the basis of diagnostic song and display characters, into the Jerdon's Bushlark (Mirafra affinis) and assamica in the strict sense. Mirafra (assamica) assamica is dark-streaked grey above, and buff below, with spotting on the breast and behind the eye. The wings are rufous. Jerdon's Bushlark has paler, greyish-brown underparts. The song of Jerdon's Bushlark is a dry rattle given from its perch, while that of M. (a.) assamica is a repetition of thin disyllabic notes, delivered in a song-flight.^[3]

See also

• Bird anatomy

External links

• BirdLife International (2008). Mirafra assamica. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 11 May 2009. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of Least Concern.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Compilers: Stuart Butchart, Helen Temple (2008). "Rufous-winged Lark - BirdLife Species Factsheet". Evaluators: Jeremy Bird, Stuart Butchart, Helen Temple. BirdLife International . http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=32282&m=0. Retrieved May 4, 2009. 
2. ^ Note: the name "assamica" is a toponym after the state of Assam, north-eastern India. Aasheesh Pittie . "A dictionary of scientific bird names originating from the Indian region". http://www.bnhsenvis.nic.in/Vol%209%20(2)dictionary.pdf. Retrieved April 27, 2009. ^{[dead link]}
3. ^ Alström, Per (1998). "Taxonomy of the Mirafra assamica complex". Forktail 13: 97–107 . http://www.orientalbirdclub.org/publications/forktail/13pdfs/Alstrom-Mirafra.pdf. Retrieved May 1, 2009. 

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  In Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

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  With Paddyfield Pipit (Anthus rufulus) in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

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  In Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

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  In Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

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  Preening in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

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  In Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

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  In Kolkata, West Bengal, India.