The chestnut-headed sparrow-lark (''Eremopterix signatus'') or chestnut-headed finch-lark is a species of

passerine A passerine () is any bird of the order Passeriformes (; from Latin 'sparrow' and '-shaped'), which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds, passerines are distinguished from other orders of birds by th ...

bird 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 occ ...

. It is found in eastern and north-eastern Africa. Its natural

habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...

s are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry lowland

grassland A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dominated by grasses ( Poaceae). However, sedge ( Cyperaceae) and rush ( Juncaceae) can also be found along with variable proportions of legumes, like clover, and other herbs. Grasslands occur na ...

, and hot deserts.

Taxonomy and systematics

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized: * ''E. s. harrisoni'' - ( Ogilvie-Grant, 1900): Found in south-eastern Sudan and north-western Kenya * ''E. s. signatus'' - ( Oustalet, 1886): Found in southern and eastern Ethiopia, Somalia and eastern Kenya

Description

The male chestnut-headed sparrow-lark has a black collar and bib, white cheeks and a white circular area on the nape of the crown, surrounded by a chestnut border. This distinguishes it from Fischer's sparrow-lark which lacks the white spot. The female has duller plumage.

Behaviour and ecology

This bird is usually found in pairs or small flocks of up to forty birds, often around water holes. It flies low to the ground and may sing in flight or when standing on bare ground.Kenya Birds

References

chestnut-headed sparrow-lark Birds of the Horn of Africa chestnut-headed sparrow-lark Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Alaudidae-stub