The Somali lark (''Mirafra somalica'') 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 ...

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

to Somalia.

Taxonomy and systematics

The Somali lark was originally classified as belonging to the genus ''

Certhilauda ''Certhilauda'' is a genus of larks in the family Alaudidae living in the southern regions of Africa. The genus was formerly named ''Heterocorys''. Taxonomy and systematics Extant species The genus ''Certhilauda'' contains six species: * Short- ...

''. The term "Somali lark" is also used as an alternate name for both

Archer's 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 subtrop ...

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 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 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 ...

is 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 ...

References

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