''Mirafra'' is a genus of lark in the family Alaudidae. Some ''Mirafra'' species are called "larks", while others are called "bush larks". They are found from Africa through South Asia to Australia.

Taxonomy and systematics

The phylogeny of larks (Alaudidae) was reviewed by Alström et al. (2013) who found that the following species form a well supported monophyletic group, which is the sister lineage to

Heteromirafra ''Heteromirafra'' is a small genus of African larks 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 ...

Extant species

The genus contains twenty-four species:

Former species

Some authorities, either presently or formerly, recognize several additional species as belonging to the genus ''Mirafra'', including: * Short-clawed lark (as ''Mirafra chuana'') * Dusky lark (as ''Mirafra nigricans'') * Rufous-rumped lark (as ''Mirafra erythropygia'' or ''Mirafra nigricans erythropygia'') *

Indian desert finch-lark The desert lark (''Ammomanes deserti'') breeds in deserts and semi-deserts from Morocco to western India. It has a very wide distribution and faces no obvious threats, and surveys have shown that it is slowly increasing in numbers as it expands ...

(as ''Mirafra phoenicuroides'') * Rufous-tailed lark (as ''Mirafra phoenicura'') *

Madagascan lark The Madagascar lark (''Eremopterix hova'') is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae endemic to Madagascar. Taxonomy and systematics The Madagascar lark was formerly placed within the genus ''Mirafra'' until moved to ''Eremopterix'' in 2014. ...

(as ''Mirafra hova'') * Sabota lark (as ''Mirafra sabota'') *

Bradfield's lark The sabota lark (''Calendulauda sabota'') is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in southern Africa in its natural habitats of dry savannah, moist savannah, and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. Taxonomy and systematics Fo ...

(as ''Mirafra naevia'') * Pink-breasted lark (as ''Mirafra poecilosterna'') * Foxy lark (as ''Mirafra alopex'') *

Masai fawn-coloured lark The foxy lark or Abyssinian lark (''Calendulauda alopex'') is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in east-central Africa. Taxonomy and systematics Formerly, the foxy lark was classified as belonging to the genus ''Mirafra'' un ...

(as ''Mirafra intercedens'') *

Fawn-coloured lark The fawn-coloured lark (''Calendulauda africanoides'') or fawn-coloured bush-lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in south-central Africa. Taxonomy and systematics Formerly, the fawn-coloured lark was classified as be ...

(as ''Mirafra africanoides'') * Karoo lark (as ''Mirafra albescens'' or ''Mirafra nivosa'') * Red lark (as ''Mirafra burra'') * Dune lark (as ''Mirafra erythrochlamys'') * Barlow's lark (as ''Mirafra erythrochlamys barlowi'') *

Rudd's lark Rudd's lark (''Heteromirafra ruddi'') is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is endemic to South Africa. Its natural habitat is high-altitude grassland. It is threatened by habitat loss. Taxonomy and systematics left, Bird in flight a ...

(as ''Mirafra ruddi'') * Archer's lark (as ''Mirafra archeri'') *

Sidamo lark Archer's lark (''Heteromirafra archeri''), also known as the Liben lark, is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in Somalia, Somaliland and Ethiopia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and subtropical ...

(as ''Mirafra sidamoensis'') *

Ngaundere sun lark The sun lark (''Galerida modesta'') or Nigerian sun lark, is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. Its range extends mainly across the Sudan region (south of the Sahel), from Guinea to South Sudan. Its natural habitats are dry savannah and ...

(as ''Mirafra strümpelli'') *

Uele sun lark The sun lark (''Galerida modesta'') or Nigerian sun lark, is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. Its range extends mainly across the Sudan region (south of the Sahel), from Guinea to South Sudan. Its natural habitats are dry savannah and ...

(as ''Mirafra bucolica'')

References

Alaudidae Bird genera Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Alaudidae-stub