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Melanocorypha Bimaculata MHNT
''Melanocorypha'' is a small genus of birds in the lark family. The current genus name, ''Melanocorypha'' is from Ancient Greek ''melas'', "black", and ''koruphos'' a term used by ancient writer for a now unknown bird, but here confused with ''korudos'', "lark". Taxonomy and systematics Established by Friedrich Boie in 1828, the genus ''Melanocorypha'' has five extant and at least three extinct species. Extant species There are five species recognized in the genus: Extinct species There is at least three fossil species included in this genus: * †''Melanocorypha serdicensis'' (late Miocene from Hrabarsko, Bulgaria)Boev, Z. 2012. Neogene Larks (Aves: Alaudidae (Vigors, 1825)) from Bulgaria - Acta zoologica bulgarica, 64 (3), 2012: 295-318. * †''Melanocorypha donchevi'' (late Pliocene from Varshets, Bulgaria) * †''Melanocorypha minor'' (Pliocene of Beremend, Hungary) Former species Formerly, some authorities classified the following species as belonging to the genus '' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Calandra Lark
The calandra lark (''Melanocorypha calandra'') or European calandra-lark breeds in warm temperate countries around the Mediterranean and eastwards through Turkey into northern Iran and southern Russia. It is replaced further east by its relative, the bimaculated lark. Taxonomy and systematics The calandra lark was originally placed in the genus ''Alauda''. The current genus name, ''Melanocorypha'' is from Ancient Greek ''melas'', "black", and ''koruphos'' a term used by ancient writers for a now unknown bird, but here confused with ''korudos'', "lark". "Calandra"' derives ultimately from ''kalandros'' the Ancient Greek name for this bird. The bimaculated lark is also sometimes termed as the calandra lark. Subspecies Four subspecies are recognized: * Western calandra lark (''M. c. calandra'') - ( Linnaeus, 1766): Found in southern Europe and north-western Africa to Turkey (except south-central and south-eastern Turkey), Transcaucasia and north-western Iran * Eastern cal ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tibetan Lark
The Tibetan lark (''Melanocorypha maxima'') is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found on the Tibetan plateau from north-western India to central China. Alternate names for this species include the Asiatic lark, long-billed calandra lark and long-billed lark. References External links Images- Animal Diversity Web Tibetan lark Birds of Tibet Birds of Central China Tibetan lark Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Tibetan lark {{Alaudidae-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Precocial
In biology, altricial species are those in which the young are underdeveloped at the time of birth, but with the aid of their parents mature after birth. Precocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normally nidifugous, meaning that they leave the nest shortly after birth or hatching. These categories form a continuum, without distinct gaps between them. Altriciality Etymology The word is derived from the Latin root ''alere'', meaning "to nurse, to rear, or to nourish" and indicates the need for young to be fed and taken care of for a long duration. By contrast, species whose young are immediately or quickly mobile are called ''precocial''. Precociality Etymology The word "precocial" is derived from the same root as ''precocious'', implying early maturity in both cases. Superprecociality Extremely precocial species are called "superprecocial". Examples are the megapode birds, which ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Steppe
In physical geography, a steppe () is an ecoregion characterized by grassland plains without trees apart from those near rivers and lakes. Steppe biomes may include: * the montane grasslands and shrublands biome * the temperate grasslands, savannas and shrublands biome A steppe may be semi-arid or covered with grass or with shrubs or with both, depending on the season and latitude. The term " steppe climate" denotes the climate encountered in regions too dry to support a forest but not dry enough to be a desert. Steppe soils are typically of the chernozem type. Steppes are usually characterized by a semi-arid or continental climate. Extremes can be recorded in the summer of up to and in winter, . Besides this major seasonal difference, fluctuations between day and night are also very great. In both the highlands of Mongolia and northern Nevada, can be reached during the day with sub-freezing readings at night. Mid-latitude steppes feature hot summers and cold wint ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bird Migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal movement, often north and south along a flyway, between breeding and wintering grounds. Many species of bird migrate. Migration carries high costs in predation and mortality, including from hunting by humans, and is driven primarily by the availability of food. It occurs mainly in the northern hemisphere, where birds are funneled onto specific routes by natural barriers such as the Mediterranean Sea or the Caribbean Sea. Migration of species such as storks, turtle doves, and swallows was recorded as many as 3,000 years ago by Ancient Greek authors, including Homer and Aristotle, and in the Book of Job. More recently, Johannes Leche began recording dates of arrivals of spring migrants in Finland in 1749, and modern scientific studies have used techniques including bird ringing and satellite tracking to trace migrants. Threats to migratory birds have grown with habitat destruction, especially of stopover and wintering sites, as wel ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Calandra Lark
The calandra lark (''Melanocorypha calandra'') or European calandra-lark breeds in warm temperate countries around the Mediterranean and eastwards through Turkey into northern Iran and southern Russia. It is replaced further east by its relative, the bimaculated lark. Taxonomy and systematics The calandra lark was originally placed in the genus ''Alauda''. The current genus name, ''Melanocorypha'' is from Ancient Greek ''melas'', "black", and ''koruphos'' a term used by ancient writers for a now unknown bird, but here confused with ''korudos'', "lark". "Calandra"' derives ultimately from ''kalandros'' the Ancient Greek name for this bird. The bimaculated lark is also sometimes termed as the calandra lark. Subspecies Four subspecies are recognized: * Western calandra lark (''M. c. calandra'') - ( Linnaeus, 1766): Found in southern Europe and north-western Africa to Turkey (except south-central and south-eastern Turkey), Transcaucasia and north-western Iran * Eastern cal ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Skylark
''Alauda'' is a genus of larks found across much of Europe, Asia and in the mountains of north Africa, and one of the species (the Raso lark) endemic to the islet of Raso in the Cape Verde Islands. Further, at least two additional species are known from the fossil record. The current genus name is from Latin ''alauda'', "lark". Pliny the Elder thought the word was originally of Celtic origin. Taxonomy and systematics The genus ''Alauda'' was introduced by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his ''Systema Naturae''. The type species was subsequently designated as the Eurasian skylark. The genus ''Alauda'' has four extant and at least two extinct species. Formerly, many other species have also been considered to belong to the genus. Extant species The genus contains four species: Extinct species * †''Alauda xerarvensis'' (late Pliocene of Varshets, Bulgaria) * †''Alauda tivadari'' (late Miocene of Polgardi, Hungary) Former species Previ ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
White-winged Lark
The white-winged lark (''Alauda leucoptera'') is a species of lark found from southern Ukraine through Kazakhstan to south-central Russia. It is partially migratory, with birds tending to move south in winter. The southernmost birds are mainly resident. It is a very rare vagrant to western Europe. Taxonomy and systematics The current genus name is from the Latin for lark. The specific ''leucoptera'' means "white-winged", from ''leukos'', "white", and ''pteron'', "wing". Formerly, the white-winged lark was classified as belonging to the genus ''Melanocorypha'' until moved to ''Alauda'' in 2014. Description This lark with flashing white wing patches is large and robust, usually 17–19 cm in length, with a wingspan of 35 cm. Both sexes weigh about 44 g. In flight, it is unmistakable due to its striking wing pattern: black outer flight feathers, white inner flight feathers, and the rest of the wing chestnut. Its body is dark-streaked grey above and whitish below. The ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
White-winged Lark
The white-winged lark (''Alauda leucoptera'') is a species of lark found from southern Ukraine through Kazakhstan to south-central Russia. It is partially migratory, with birds tending to move south in winter. The southernmost birds are mainly resident. It is a very rare vagrant to western Europe. Taxonomy and systematics The current genus name is from the Latin for lark. The specific ''leucoptera'' means "white-winged", from ''leukos'', "white", and ''pteron'', "wing". Formerly, the white-winged lark was classified as belonging to the genus ''Melanocorypha'' until moved to ''Alauda'' in 2014. Description This lark with flashing white wing patches is large and robust, usually 17–19 cm in length, with a wingspan of 35 cm. Both sexes weigh about 44 g. In flight, it is unmistakable due to its striking wing pattern: black outer flight feathers, white inner flight feathers, and the rest of the wing chestnut. Its body is dark-streaked grey above and whitish below. The ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bar-tailed Lark
The bar-tailed lark or bar-tailed desert lark (''Ammomanes cinctura'') is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. Two other species, the rufous-tailed lark and the Cape clapper lark are both also sometimes referred to using the name bar-tailed lark. It is found from Morocco to Pakistan. Its natural habitat is hot deserts. This is in many places a common species, but elsewhere rather less common. It has a very wide distribution and faces no obvious threats, but surveys have shown that it is slowly decreasing in numbers. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern". Taxonomy and systematics The bar-tailed lark was originally placed in the genus ''Melanocorypha''. Alternate names for the bar-tailed lark include: bar-tailed finch-lark, black-tailed desert lark, black-tailed lark, and black-tailed sand lark. Subspecies Three subspecies are recognized: * ''A. c. cinctura'' - (Gould, 1839): Found on Cape Verde ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Thick-billed Lark
The thick-billed lark (''Ramphocoris clotbey'') or Clotbey lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. Taxonomy and systematics It was named after Antoine Clot. It was originally described as belonging to the genus ''Melanocorypha'' and is now placed in the monotypic genus ''Ramphocoris''. Distribution and habitat It is found in northern Africa from Mauritania and Morocco to Libya, also in central regions of the Arabian Peninsula. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and hot desert A desert is a barren area of landscape where little precipitation occurs and, consequently, living conditions are hostile for plant and animal life. The lack of vegetation exposes the unprotected surface of the ground to denudation. About on ...s. Gallery Thick-billed Lark.ogv, Adult, Saudi Arabia 1993 Ramphocoris clotbey MHNT 224 Tamrikat Mauritanie HdB.jpg, Eggs of ''Ramphocoris clotbey'' MHNT References Alaudidae, thick-billed lark Birds of N ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
