The grey-backed sparrow-lark (''Eremopterix verticalis'') or grey-backed finch-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 oc ...

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 southern and south-central 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 and 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 ...

. Sometimes, the name 'grey-backed sparrow-lark' is also used to describe the

black-eared sparrow-lark The black-eared sparrow-lark (''Eremopterix australis'') or black-eared finch lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in southern Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry s ...

Taxonomy and systematics

Subspecies

Four subspecies are recognized: * ''E. v. khama'' -

Irwin Irwin may refer to: Places ;United States * Irwin, California * Irwin, Idaho * Irwin, Illinois * Irwin, Iowa * Irwin, Nebraska * Irwin, Ohio * Irwin, Pennsylvania * Irwin, South Carolina * Irwin County, Georgia * Irwin Township, Venango County ...

, 1957: Found in north-eastern Botswana, western Zimbabwe and western Zambia * ''E. v. harti'' - Benson & Irwin, 1965: Found in south-western Zambia * ''E. v. damarensis'' - Roberts, 1931: Found from western Angola and south-western Zambia to western South Africa * ''E. v. verticalis'' - (

Smith Smith may refer to: People * Metalsmith, or simply smith, a craftsman fashioning tools or works of art out of various metals * Smith (given name) * Smith (surname), a family name originating in England, Scotland and Ireland ** List of people wi ...

, 1836): Found from south-eastern Botswana and south-western Zimbabwe to southern South Africa

References

External links

Species text in ''The Atlas of Southern African Birds''
grey-backed sparrow-lark Birds of Southern Africa grey-backed sparrow-lark Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Alaudidae-stub