The Bengal bush lark (''Mirafra assamica'') or Bengal lark is a species of

lark Larks are passerine birds of the family Alaudidae. Larks have a cosmopolitan distribution with the largest number of species occurring in Africa. Only a single species, the horned lark, occurs in North America, and only Horsfield's bush lark occu ...

in the family

Alaudidae Larks are passerine birds of the family Alaudidae. Larks have a cosmopolitan distribution with the largest number of species occurring in Africa. Only a single species, the horned lark, occurs in North America, and only Horsfield's bush lark occu ...

found in southern Asia.

Taxonomy and systematics

The differences within the genus ''Mirafra'' are often very subtle and confusing with many differences apparent only when specimens are examined in hand. The Bengal bush lark 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 bush lark (''Mirafra affinis'') and ''assamica'' in the strict sense. Formerly, both the Burmese bush lark and Jerdon's bush lark were considered subspecies of the Bengal bush lark (as ''M. a. microptera'' and ''M. a. affinis'' respectively) until split to form a separate species. The alternate name "rufous-winged bush lark" may also be used to describe the red-winged lark. Another alternate name for the Bengal bush lark is the rufous-winged lark.

Description

The Bengal bush lark is short-tailed and has a strong stout bill. It is not as long as the

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 ...

, measuring about 15 centimetres in length. It is dark-streaked grey above, and buff below, with spotting on the breast and behind the eye. The wings are rufous. The song of the Bengal bush lark is a repetition of thin disyllabic notes, delivered in a song-flight.

Distribution and habitat

The Bengal bush lark is a resident breeder in the Indian subcontinent and south-east Asia, and found in the countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar and Nepal, with an estimated global extent of occurrence of 100,000-1,000,000 square kilometres. The Bengal bush lark is a common bird of dry, open, stony country often with sparse shrubs, and cultivated areas.

Behaviour and ecology

It nests on the ground, laying three or four speckled

eggs Humans and human ancestors have scavenged and eaten animal eggs for millions of years. Humans in Southeast Asia had domesticated chickens and harvested their eggs for food by 1,500 BCE. The most widely consumed eggs are those of fowl, especial ...

. This lark feeds primarily on seeds and insects, especially the latter during the breeding season.

Gallery

Image:Bengal bushlark 2.jpg, In Kolkata Image:Bengal Bushlark I IMG 5004.jpg, Showing wing colour while preening in

Kolkata Kolkata (, or , ; also known as Calcutta , the official name until 2001) is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal, on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary business, comme ...

File:Bengal bushlark (Mirafra assamica) in Kolkata W IMG 4592.jpg, In

West Bengal West Bengal (, Bengali: ''Poshchim Bongo'', , abbr. WB) is a state in the eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabitants within an area of . West Bengal is the fourt ...

, India File:Bengal bushlark (Mirafra assamica) with Paddyfield Pipit (Anthuis rufulus) in Kolkata W IMG 4571.jpg, With

paddyfield pipit The paddyfield pipit or Oriental pipit (''Anthus rufulus'') is a small passerine bird in the pipit and wagtail family. It is a resident (non- migratory) breeder in open scrub, grassland and cultivation in southern Asia east to the Philippines. Al ...

(''Anthus rufulus'') in Kolkata, West Bengal, India File:Bengal bushlark (Mirafra assamica) in Kolkata W IMG 4599.jpg, In Kolkata, West Bengal, India File:Bengal bushlark (Mirafra assamica) in Kolkata W IMG 4596.jpg, In Kolkata, West Bengal, India File:Bengal Bushllark- Kolkata- preening I2 IMG 5000.jpg, Preening in Kolkata, West Bengal, India File:Bengal Bushlark I IMG 2079.jpg, In Kolkata, West Bengal, India File:Bengal Bushlark I IMG 1964.jpg, In Kolkata, West Bengal, India File:Bengal Bushlark by sumita Roy Dutta IMG 7898 1.jpg, Bengal bush lark in Boshipota, West Bengal, India File:Bengal Bush Lark.png, in Gazipur, Bangladesh

References

External links

Species factsheet
- BirdLife International {{Taxonbar, from=Q779050 Mirafra Birds of Bhutan Birds of India Birds of Nepal Birds of Bangladesh Birds described in 1840