Ash's Lark
Encyclopedia
The Ash's Lark is a species of lark
in the Alaudidae family.
It is endemic to Somalia
.
s; and having buff-colored underbelly|underparts with brownish streaks, but a paler belly and vent; and with a light crest, and buff eyebrow-stripes.
In order to give a complete, definitive description it must also be added that it is smaller than either the Rufous-naped Lark
(M. africana), or the Red-winged Lark
(M. hypermetra); that it is more greyish and marked on its mantle than either the Singing Lark (M. cantillans), or the Pink-breasted Lark
(M. poecilosterna); and that its bill is not as thick as the former, and that it lacks the pinkish breast of the latter.
Its songs have yet to be identified.
is subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland
. When it is seen it is often running across bare ground between bunches of grass
, prior to perching atop a tussock. It is threatened by habitat loss to coastal development
.
Lying about 80 km north of Mogadishu
), in south-eastern Somalia
is the only place known that is home to M. ashi. It is a small area just north of Uarsciek. But even here, where it is locally common it is easily overlooked because it is also a home to nine other species of lark, such as the Red-winged Lark
(M. hypermetra hypermetra) and the Somali Long-billed Lark (M. somalica rochei). It is possible that Ash's lark is also present somewhat to the north of its known range, along the coast, as much of this land is a still mystery to ornithologists.
Lark
Larks are passerine birds of the family Alaudidae. All species occur in the Old World, and in northern and eastern Australia; only one, the Shore Lark, has spread to North America, where it is called the Horned Lark...
in the Alaudidae family.
It is endemic to Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
.
Identification
In the case of some lark species, as with Ash's Lark it is hard to describe definitively without having to compare its characters with those of some of its close relatives. It is insufficient to say only that it is a small (14 cm in length) lark that has greyish-brown upperparts with paler edging to its mantle featherFeather
Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on birds and some non-avian theropod dinosaurs. They are considered the most complex integumentary structures found in vertebrates, and indeed a premier example of a complex evolutionary novelty. They...
s; and having buff-colored underbelly|underparts with brownish streaks, but a paler belly and vent; and with a light crest, and buff eyebrow-stripes.
In order to give a complete, definitive description it must also be added that it is smaller than either the Rufous-naped Lark
Rufous-naped Lark
The Rufous-naped Lark is a species of lark in the Alaudidae family.- Range :The Rufous-naped lark's range is very large, with an estimated global Extent of Occurrence of 5,600,000 square km...
(M. africana), or the Red-winged Lark
Red-winged Lark
The Red-winged Lark is a species of lark in the Alaudidae family.- Population and range :The range of Red-winged Lark is quite extensive within Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda, with an estimated global Extent of Occurrence of 660,000 km2.Its total population has yet to...
(M. hypermetra); that it is more greyish and marked on its mantle than either the Singing Lark (M. cantillans), or the Pink-breasted Lark
Pink-breasted Lark
The pink-breasted lark is a species of passerine bird in the Alaudidae family.- Range :M. poecilosterna is estimated to have a global Extent of Occurrence of 560,000 km2...
(M. poecilosterna); and that its bill is not as thick as the former, and that it lacks the pinkish breast of the latter.
Its songs have yet to be identified.
Habitat and habits
Its natural habitatHabitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
is subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
. When it is seen it is often running across bare ground between bunches of grass
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
, prior to perching atop a tussock. It is threatened by habitat loss to coastal development
Real estate development
Real estate development, or Property Development, is a multifaceted business, encompassing activities that range from the renovation and re-lease of existing buildings to the purchase of raw land and the sale of improved land or parcels to others...
.
Ecology
At present there exists only a very sketchy understanding of M. ashi's ecological relationships at best.Range & population
While there is a clearer understanding of its population and distribution than of its ecology, data from recent decades in this regard has been greatly lacking. Political unrest has prevented solid fieldwork in the region for many years.Lying about 80 km north of Mogadishu
Mogadishu
Mogadishu , popularly known as Xamar, is the largest city in Somalia and the nation's capital. Located in the coastal Benadir region on the Indian Ocean, the city has served as an important port for centuries....
), in south-eastern Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
is the only place known that is home to M. ashi. It is a small area just north of Uarsciek. But even here, where it is locally common it is easily overlooked because it is also a home to nine other species of lark, such as the Red-winged Lark
Red-winged Lark
The Red-winged Lark is a species of lark in the Alaudidae family.- Population and range :The range of Red-winged Lark is quite extensive within Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda, with an estimated global Extent of Occurrence of 660,000 km2.Its total population has yet to...
(M. hypermetra hypermetra) and the Somali Long-billed Lark (M. somalica rochei). It is possible that Ash's lark is also present somewhat to the north of its known range, along the coast, as much of this land is a still mystery to ornithologists.