Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark

Overview

The black-crowned sparrow-lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found across northern Africa and into the Middle East and north-western India. It is a small bird that inhabits dry savanna environments and is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Males display a bold pied head pattern with a mainly black head contrasting with a white forehead and white cheek patches.
• Upperparts are pale greyish brown, while underparts and underwings are black, contrasting with white patches on the sides of the breast.
• The tail is blackish with buff edges and grey central feathers, and the bill is horn-coloured.
• Females are pale sandy brown on the upperparts with whitish patches around the eye and neck, and black underwing coverts.
• Males sing a variable song of short, sweet notes, typically during flight displays or from low vantage points.

Habitat

The species occupies arid and semi-arid plains with scattered low vegetation and grass tussocks, preferring sandy areas over rocky soil. It occurs across North Africa from the Cape Verde archipelago through the Sahel and Arabian Peninsula to Pakistan and India, and has also been observed around salt pans.

Diet

This bird is primarily a seed eater but also consumes insects and other invertebrates. Foraging usually takes place on the ground during the cooler early morning and evening hours, though flying insects are sometimes caught by hawking in the air.

Did you know?

To survive the midday heat and reduce water loss, these birds have been recorded sheltering inside the burrows of large lizards. They also regulate body temperature by flying with legs dangling or perching with wings drooped to increase air exposure.