The Somali lark (''Mirafra somalica'') is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae endemic to Somalia.

Taxonomy and systematics

The Somali lark was originally classified as belonging to the genus '' Certhilauda''. The term "Somali lark" is also used as an alternate name for both Archer's lark and

Sharpe's lark Sharpe's lark (''Mirafra sharpii'') is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in Somalia Somalia, , Osmanya script: 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒕𐒖; ar, الصومال, aṣ-Ṣūmāl officially the Federal Republic of Somal ...

. The term "red Somali lark" is also used as an alternate name for Sharpe's lark. Other alternate names include red Somali lark, Somali bushlark and Somali long-billed lark.

Subspecies

Two

subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

are recognized: * ''M. s. somalica'' - ( Witherby, 1903): Found in northern Somalia * ''M. s. rochei'' - Colston, 1982: Found in central Somalia

Distribution and habitat

The

range Range may refer to: Geography * Range (geographic), a chain of hills or mountains; a somewhat linear, complex mountainous or hilly area (cordillera, sierra) ** Mountain range, a group of mountains bordered by lowlands * Range, a term used to i ...

of ''M. somalica'' is somewhat large, with an estimated global extent of occurrence of 270,000 km². Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland.

References

Somali lark Endemic birds of Somalia Somali lark Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Alaudidae-stub