The large-billed lark or southern thick-billed lark (''Galerida magnirostris'') is a small

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 Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweig ...

found in southern Africa. The name "large-billed lark" may also refer to Bradfield's lark. The name "thick-billed lark" more commonly refers to the species of the same name (i.e. '' Rhamphocoris clotbey'').

Taxonomy and systematics

The large-billed lark was originally placed in the genus '' Alauda'', and then ''Calendula'' until that genus was subsequently re-named to the present ''Galerida''. Another alternate name used for the large-billed lark is the long-billed lark.

Subspecies

Three subspecies are recognized: * ''G. m. magnirostris'' ( Stephens, 1826): Found in south-western South Africa * ''G. m. sedentaria'' Clancey, 1993: Found in south-western Namibia and western South Africa * Orange Free State large-billed lark, ''G. m. harei'' ( Roberts, 1924): Found in central South Africa, Lesotho

Description

The large-billed lark is 18 cm in length. It is relatively short-tailed and has a thick bill with a yellow base to the lower mandible. It has streaked brown-grey upperparts, and a long white supercilium. Like other species in the genus, it has a crest that can be raised in display or alarm. The underparts are cream-coloured with heavy dark streaking on the breast. The heavy bi-coloured bill distinguishes this species from all other African larks. The call of this very vocal species is a soft creaking "''treeeeleeeeleee''".

Distribution and habitat

The large-billed lark is a resident breeder in southern South Africa, Lesotho and southernmost Namibia. Its natural habitat is fynbos, karoo scrub and mountain grassland. The large-billed lark is also found in cultivated and fallow agricultural land.

Behaviour and ecology

Like other larks, the large-billed lark nests on the ground. Its food is seeds and insects, the latter especially in the breeding season.

References

*Sinclair, Hockey and Tarboton, ''SASOL Birds of Southern Africa'',
BirdLife International

External links

Species text
- ''The Atlas of Southern African Birds'' {{Taxonbar, from=Q1587607 large-billed lark Birds of Southern Africa large-billed lark