Jerdon's bush lark (''Mirafra affinis'') or Jerdon's lark is a species of
lark in the family
Alaudidae found in south Asia. This was formerly considered as a subspecies of ''
Mirafra assamica'' and termed as the Madras bushlark. Two other species in the complex include ''
Mirafra marionae'' and ''
Mirafra microptera''. Jerdon's bush lark is typically very pale on the underside
Taxonomy and systematics
The common name commemorates the surgeon-naturalist
Thomas C. Jerdon
Thomas Caverhill Jerdon (12 October 1811 – 12 June 1872) was a British physician, zoologist and botanist. He was a pioneering ornithologist who described numerous species of birds in India. Several species of plants (including the genus '' Je ...
.
Formerly, Jerdon's bush lark was considered to be a subspecies of the
Bengal bush lark
The Bengal bush lark (''Mirafra assamica'') or Bengal lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in southern Asia.
Taxonomy and systematics
The differences within the genus ''Mirafra'' are often very subtle and confusing with man ...
(as ''M. assamica affinis'') until studies of differences in call and distribution led to it being treated as a separate species.
However, not all authorities recognize this species split.
Description
Jerdon's bush lark has arrowhead-like spots pointing upwards on the breast. It is very similar to the
Indian bush lark
The Indian bush lark (''Mirafra erythroptera'') is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in South Asia.
Taxonomy and systematics
The alternate names "red-winged lark" and "red-winged bush lark" are more commonly used to describe the r ...
(''M. erythroptera'') but has buffy lores, less white behind ear coverts, darker center to wing coverts and central tail feathers. Dark centers of primary coverts are prominent, and wing panels are duller and rufous. In the southern
Western Ghats, the race ''ceylonensis'' is darker and more rufous on the underside and has a longer bill.
Jerdon's bush lark has paler, greyish-brown underparts.
The song of the Jerdon's bush lark is a dry rattle given from its perch.
Distribution and habitat
Jerdon's bush lark has a large range in south-east India and Sri Lanka, with an estimated global extent of occurrence of 100,000-1,000,000 square kilometers.
[
It has proven adaptable to a variety of open habitats up to a maximum elevation of 1500 m. Some of these are forest perimeters, rocky scrubland, scrubby hill meadows and clearings in open-type forests, shrub-edged unused croplands, and thickets of ]bamboo
Bamboos are a diverse group of evergreen perennial flowering plants making up the subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family Poaceae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family. The origin of the word "bamboo" is uncertain, bu ...
.
Behaviour and ecology
Its song-flight is similar to that of the Indian bush lark, However, unlike the aforementioned species, Jerdon's bush lark often perches on trees and wires.[
]
Gallery
File:M_affinis.jpg, A juvenile near Bangalore
Bangalore (), officially Bengaluru (), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It has a population of more than and a metropolitan population of around , making it the third most populous city and fifth most ...
, India
File:Jerdons Bushlark Back Sirudavoor TN India Jan21 D72 19599.jpg, Adult bird near Chennai
Chennai (, ), formerly known as Madras ( the official name until 1996), is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost Indian state. The largest city of the state in area and population, Chennai is located on the Coromandel Coast of th ...
, India
References
Jerdon's bush lark
Birds of India
Birds of Sri Lanka
Jerdon's bush lark
Jerdon's bush lark
{{Alaudidae-stub